Abstract

ABSTRACT:A retrospective study of the long-term follow-up of patients with Austin Moore prostheses is presented. Sufficient data were present to evaluate 78 hips postoperatively at six months, and 1, 5, 10, and 15 years when applicable. The average age of patients at the time of operation was 56.1 years. Most preoperative diagnoses resulted from previous operative procedures which had failed (there were only six fresh fractures). The operative technic is discussed. Postoperatively, cessation of pain is relatively early and the return of function increases linearly but at a slower rate. The importance of partial weight-bearing for four to six months postoperatively as well as daily physical therapy is emphasized. The mean amount of settling of the prostheses (total in the femur and acetabulum) was 1.63 cm in all patients. We believe that certain postoperative principles are applicable to all types of reconstructive surgery of the hip.