Conversion of failed hemiarthroplasty to total hip arthroplasty: A short-term follow-up study

Purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of patients underwent hemiarthroplasty for proximal femoral fracture converted to total hip arthroplasty (THA). A total of 138 patients from October 2009 till October 2014 had conversion of their failed hemiarthroplasties following a proximal femoral fracture to total hip arthroplasty (THA) in Erfan and Milad hospitals, Tehran. We performed a prospective analysis of the outcome of conversion surgery in patients with failed hemiarthroplasty. The patients had clinical evaluations at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter. We used Harris Hip Score (HHS) to evaluate the results of conversion procedure in terms of relief of groin pain and functional improvement. Dislocation occurred in 6 patients (4.34%). The mean period of follow-up was 42 months (range 36–60 months). HHS score improved from mean preoperative score of 44.93 ± 8.40 to 95.41 ± 2.27 at final follow-up. The survivorship analysis with revision of HHS score was 89.1%. Existence of infection (P = .038) and time of primary operation to being symptomatic (P = .009) can predict the postoperative pain significantly. THA is a safe option which can lead to good functional and short-term and mid-term outcomes; and patients should be informed of the possibility of incomplete relief of groin pain or other symptoms postoperatively.