Treatment of Degenerative Arthritis of the Hip Using Bipolar Endoprosthesis

Lee, Han Koo; Lee, Sang Hoon; Lee, Choon Ki; Lee, Young In; Kim, Yong Min

Abstract

Total hip replacement arthroplasty is the most commonly used method in the surgical treatment of degenrative arthritis of the hip nowadays. If degenrative arthritic changes of the hip is caused mainly by abnormal femoral head, and the acetabular chnages are secondary to it, replacement of the femoral head without acetabular implanting can be expected to elicit regenerative acetabular changes secondary to the newly implanted femoral head component with spherical contour. 8 cases of degenerative arthritis of the hip were treated with bipolar endoprosthesis at the Seoul National University Hospital from January, 1987 to November, 1988 Acetabular reaming to the subchondral bone was performed in all the cases. In 2 cases, bone graft was added for augmentation of the thin medial wall. The mean follow-up was 15.5 months ranging from 12 to 26 months. The results were compared with 18 cases treated with total hip replacement arthroplasty during the same period. Both two groups showed no significant difference in the postoperative improvement of the range of motion and Harris score. In 2 cases treated with bipolar endoprosthesis, follow-up radiographs demonstrated some improvement of the degenerative changes such as subchondral sclerosis or cyst, which suggests the occurrence of the regenerative reaction in the scetabular side. 7 cases among 8 cases were pain-free, and 1 case had mild pain. In conclusion, bipolar endoprosthesis can be considered as another useful, less invasive method with shorter operation time in the surgical treatment of degenerative arthritis of the hip although more expericnces and longer follow-up are needed.