Arthrography for the diagnosis of abductor avulsion after total hip arthroplasty: a comparison of arthrographic and surgical findings in 33 patients.

Background: Weakness of the abductor muscles--or even their avulsion--is a potential risk when total hip arthroplasty (THA) is performed using the anterolateral approach. Avulsion of the re-attached gluteus medius leads to a limp, but can also provide an open canal for joint fluid to escape to the trochanteric region. Thus, our hypothesis was that arthrography can be used to diagnose such detachment.