Hip Arthroplasty for Femoral Head Osteonecrosis in Gaucher's Disease

Abstract

Seven Gaucher patients were treated with a hip arthroplasty from 1973 to 1990. The average age at initial operation was 29.5 years. There were five primary total hip replacements, three surface replacements, and one revision. Clinical results were favorable although there was a high rate of postoperative complications. Two surface replacements were converted to total hip replacements, and two stemmed arthroplasties required revision for aseptic loosening. As we are approaching a cure for the underlying disease and despite the high potential for complications, cemented or hybrid total hip arthroplasty provides predictable symptomatic relief for this difficult patient group.