Two-stage hip revision arthroplasty: the role of the excision arthroplasty

Between 1995 and 2003, 41 septic hips in 40 consecutive patients (20 males, 20 females) were treated with a two-stage total-hip-arthroplasty revision. Seventeen patients with 18 relevant procedures (44%) were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 52 months. In 5 hips, an excision arthroplasty was present at review. Reimplantation had been performed in 13 hips. The interval between explantation and reimplantation averaged 158 days. The average age was 68 years and the mean ASA score 3.24 at explantation. Mean Harris Hip score was 60 points, the mean Mayo Hip Score 66 points. We found no significance (Harris Hip Score, t test) between results after reimplantation and with long-term excision arthroplasty. The excision arthroplasty as a long-term solution can be an alternative to reimplantation in the treatment of critically ill patients.