Generic total hip arthroplasty.

To decrease implant costs for total hip arthroplasty, a number of different options are available, including the use of remaindered implants, older designs, discounted stock, or specifically designed implants manufactured and sold at low cost. To determine the prevalence of these practices, 80 questionnaires were mailed to members of the Hip Society; 55 (79%) were completed and returned. In addition, 32 questionnaires were mailed to a representative group of orthopaedic surgeons in Canada; 29 (90%) were completed and returned. Analysis of these returns revealed that 73% of the respondents used a low-cost prosthesis for certain indications in total hip arthroplasty. No uniform policy with regard to cost containment or to the definition of low cost was apparent. In a parallel study, the results of a clinical trial with a generic hip implant in 150 patients observed for 2 years or longer revealed the general improvement in hip scores and the rate of complication to be compatible with those of other, more-expensive hip prostheses. Control of prosthetic costs as a means of influencing the cost of arthroplasty appears to be a wide-spread practice.