Hip Replacement – Mid-term outcomes of highly cross-linked polyethylene hip replacement (BHLH study)

The hip joint is a ball and socket joint. Dislocation (when the new ball comes out of the socket) is a potential complication of hip replacement. This is a research study evaluating whether a larger femoral head (ball) reduces the risk of dislocation, and whether different head sizes cause the hip replacement to wear out at different rates.

Study Description: At least 7 years prior to participation in the current study, patients underwent a total hip arthroplasty as part of a multicentre randomised controlled trial. In the RCT patients undergoing total hip replacement were randomised to receive either a large 36 mm articulation (intervention) or standard 28 mm articulation (control). The type of replacement contained a relatively new type of plastic liner. In this study, participants will be asked to return for review again between 7 and 10 years following their replacement, enabling us to gain a better understanding of how these types of prostheses are now functioning.

Outcomes: To what extent there has been any wearing away of the plastic liner of the prosthesis. To examine whether the hip prosthesis has moved within the bone since it was implanted. To determine bone loss around the prosthesis (periprosthetic osteolysis). Incidence of dislocation, re-operation or revision. Other complications such as infection, pain and loosening, as reported by the patient.

Results:

Publications:

Original publication – JBJS (lww.com) (Howie DW, Holubowycz OT, Middleton R, The Large Articulation Study Group. Large femoral heads decrease the incidence of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty. A randomized controlled trial. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. 2012;94(12):1095-1102. doi:10.2106/JBJS.K.00570