Total Hip Arthroplasty for Posttraumatic Conditions

Posttraumatic arthritis accounts for a notable share of secondary osteoarthritis about the hip joint. Compared with total hip arthroplasty for primary osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis, total hip arthroplasty for posttraumatic arthritis offers greater technical challenges because of bone deformities and retained implants. Careful preoperative evaluation is necessary to prepare the approach, hardware removal strategy, and implants necessary to address bone deficiencies. Although arthroplasty is a highly successful procedure for posttraumatic arthritis, the results are less favorable than surgery for primary osteoarthritis. It is associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications, including periprosthetic fractures, infection, instability, and decreased survivorship.