[Prosthesis loosening caused by infection of the hip joint. Current status and personal procedures in indications for primary and secondary exchange surgery].

More than 50,000 hip-joint endoprostheses are annually inserted in the FRG. Surgery for replacement of prostheses has, consequently, grown in frequency. Reported in this paper are 27 operations for replacement of hip-joint prostheses that had become necessary for infectious problems. Follow-up checks confirmed for 14 of 27 patients sufficient control of infection, ability to walk, and tight position of prosthesis. Replacement should be performed in two surgical sessions, since a short-time Girdlestone situation without extension treatment or immobilisation is properly tolerated by patients with walking capacity, and the benefit of infection control should be the primary consideration.