[Operative aspects of prosthesis change in the hip joint after fracture of the prosthesis shaft].

Between 1983 and 1988 revision arthroplasty was performed in 45 patients with broken femoral stems, an average of 11 years after primary total hip replacement. There were 25 men and 20 women, with an average age of 70 years at revision. The primary endoprostheses were all cemented and of the following types: Buchholz A1 (41) Charnley-Müller (2), Weber-Huggler (1), Charnley (1). In 8 cases the femoral stem only was changed, while in 37 both components had to be replaced. The posterior approach with the patient in the lateral position gave excellent exposure of both the acetabulum and the femur. This approach gave ready access to a dorsal window, through which the broken femoral stem could be removed with a punch. To achieve stability of the femur permitting immediate full weight-bearing, the femoral defect was always made good by a revision stem with at least twice the femoral diameter. In order to stabilize large acetabular defects a combination of homologous bone graft and an acetabular support ring was used. The implanted prostheses were of the revision type, cemented and individually selected in each case. It was possible to implant an adequate revision prosthesis in all cases. The following complications were noted during surgery: fracture of the femur (1) defects of the femur (5), and haemorrhages that were difficult to manage (2). It was necessary to reoperate in 2 patients, in 1 because of a stitched-up drain and in 1 because of postoperative haematoma. Postoperatively, 21 patients had cardiopulmonary complications, which were successfully treated in the intensive care unit in all cases but 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)