[Puncture and lavage after total hip arthroplasty].

A hip arthroplasty which becomes painful without signs of loosening merits joint irrigation. Particulate debris of polyethylene, polyester, cement or contrast material may be responsible for inflammatory changes. Their removal by irrigation has led to lasting relief of pain in 24 out of 44 non-septic painful hips. Before it becomes loose, an infected arthroplasty can be treated successfully by repeated irrigation. In 10 out of 42 patients, the infection seemed to be controlled. The simplicity of this procedure recommends its application in an unexplained painful hip arthroplasty.