Complications of total hip arthroplasty

Last revised by Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod on 22 Jun 2023

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Weerakkody Y, Ranchod A, Jones J, et al. Complications of total hip arthroplasty. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 08 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-18920

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-18920

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/18920

rID:

18920

Article created:

27 Jul 2012, Yuranga Weerakkody ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.

View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures

Last revised:

22 Jun 2023, Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Ashesh Ishwarlal Ranchod's current disclosures

Revisions:

40 times, by 20 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Gamuts

Tags:

hip, arthroplasty, orthopaedics

Synonyms:

Complications of hip arthroplasty
Complications of hip prosthesis
Complications of hip arthroplasties
Complications of hip prostheses
THR complications
Complications post hip joint replacements
Complications following THRs
Complications following THA
Complications following THAs
Complications following THR
Sequelae of total hip arthroplasty
Sequelae of total hip replacement
Post-operative complications of total hip replacement
Post-operative complications of total hip arthroplasty
Postoperative complications of total hip replacement
Postoperative complications of total hip arthroplasty
Post-surgical complications of total hip replacement
Post-surgical complications of total hip arthroplasty
THA complications
Complications of hip replacements
Sequelae of total hip replacements
Sequelae of total hip arthroplasties
Complications of hip joint replacements
Complications following hip joint replacements
Complications following hip arthroplasty

Complications of total hip arthroplasty are common and it is essential for the radiologist to be aware of them in the assessment of radiographs of total hip replacements. Complications are many and can occur at various time intervals following the initial surgery:

aseptic loosening: considered to be the most common indication for revision surgery ^1,2,4
infection of hip prostheses ^5,6
particle disease / histiocytic reaction / aggressive granulomatosis
fracture
dislocation (~5% of all replacements ⁴)
- dislocation of femoral head out of the cup: component dissociation
- dislocation of the entire acetabular cup
- dislocation of stem
malpositioning
- creep: can lead to protrusio acetabuli
- intrapelvic cup migration
- polyethylene wear eccentric position of the femoral head component within the acetabular component
heterotopic bone formation
reaction to metal
pseudobursae formation ²
abductor muscle/tendon dysfunction e.g. tears
stress shielding
trochanteric bursitis
revision total hip arthroplasty
general post-orthopedic surgical complications
- hemorrhage
- wound complications e.g. dehiscence
- thromboembolism, e.g. deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism
- vascular injury
- neurological deficit
- death

A standardized list of complications post total hip arthroplasty was developed by consensus by The Hip Society. This enables consistent standardized reporting of complications ⁸.