Joint Replacement Failure: Error of Inevitable Event

Abstract

It has been a matter of debate as to when a hip prosthesis can be said to have failed. Pain, limp and functional impairment are considered clinical signs of failure while radiolucent lines, subside, bone reabsorption and gross mobilitation are considered radiological sing. But many times, the patients without signs, free of pain and well functioning, show radiological signs of failure and the patients without radiological signs show clinical signs of failure. In the revision of 613 hip arthroplasties performed since 1983, the authors have pointed out 19 failures of their patients and 36 failures of the implants done in other hospitals. Moreover, they have observed on 15 cases radiological signs of failure without clinical sings.