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One hundred twelve consecutive primary total hip replacements were performed for osteoarthritis or osteonecrosis by a single surgeon using the Mittelmeier ceramic prosthesis without cement between January 1983 and July 1984. Ninety-three of these hips were followed prospectively to a minimum of 60 months and a median of 108 months. Five (5.4%) hips have been revised for loosening. Of the remaining hips, 77 (87.5%) were rated clinically satisfactory. Cumulative survival probability using revision as endpoint was estimated to be 92.7% at 5 years and 87.9% at 10 years. However, overall mechanical failure rates were 21.5% for the cup and 22.6% for the stem. There was no case of either femoral or acetabular osteolysis observed.

Wound drainage blood was collected after total joint arthroplasty was completed in 13 consecutive patients. Peripheral blood samples were collected in the recovery room and at 6 hours postoperatively for all 13 patients. A standard enzyme-linked immunosorbency assay was done to quantify tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 levels in the samples. At 6 hours postoperatively, the levels of cytokines were elevated significantly in the peripheral and drainage blood serum. In particular, the drainage blood serum had the most dramatic increase for all cytokines, which was significant. Reinfusion of unwashed filtered postoperative wound drainage blood has been shown not to be entirely benign; pyrogenic transfusion reaction is the most commonly reported adverse effect, but hemodynamic instability with hypotension and even myocardial infarction have been reported. The cause of these adverse events has not been defined clearly, but may be secondary to the infusion of cytokines. The present study showed the presence and significant elevation of the cytokine levels in the wound drainage blood. A comprehensive review of the literature revealed that unwashed drainage blood is a relatively dilute blood product lacking normal clotting factors and having numerous other undesirable components that may mitigate against its routine use in lieu of predeposited autologous or homologous blood. This is of interest because there is evidence indicating that wound drainage blood reinfusion may be unnecessary in total joint arthroplasty when autologous blood is available. Use of drains in this surgery also may be unnecessary and has been shown to increase the amount of blood loss and the need for transfusion.

Direct anterior approach to the hip joint utilizing a curved transverse skin incision and splitting the tensor fascia muscle longitudinally provides an effective exposure for carrying out primary total hip arthroplasty. Excellent visualization of the acetabulum is afforded by this direct approach. Modified femoral rasps of varying lengths are employed to rasp the femur with the leg in external rotation. Trochanteric osteotomy was carried out on only three occasions in a series of 104 procedures performed on 85 patients during a three-year period. The duration of operation averaged 65 minutes. Average blood replacement was 1.9 units in unilateral hips and 3.5 units in patients operated upon sequentially. Mean postoperative stay was 12.8 days following unilateral and 22.3 days following bilateral surgery. Four patients experienced perioperative complications. The anterior approach provides a safe and effective approach to total hip arthroplasty with limited morbidity.