Noncemented Total Hip Arthroplasty in Sickle-Cell Disease: Long-Term Results.

Background: Avascular necrosis of the femoral head is a well-known sequela of sickle-cell disease (SCD) requiring a surgical intervention that comes with technical challenges.

Methods: Uncemented hip arthroplasty for avascular necrosis of the femoral head due to SCD was carried out for 101 patients (133 hips) between 2000 and 2012. The duration of follow-up ranged from 5 to 17 years (mean, 14.59 years). All patients received a noncemented femoral stem and a noncemented acetabular shell.

Results: After surgery, all patients showed improvement in their hip scores for pain, range of motion, and function. The 10-year survivorship was 98%. There were 6 intraoperative fractures of the proximal femur (4.5%), 4 superficial and 5 deep infections (6.77%), 1 aseptic shell failure (0.75%), and 1 aseptic femoral stem failure (0.75%). Brooker grade IV heterotopic ossification developed in 5 hips (3.76%).

Conclusion: Hip arthroplasty in SCD is now a safe and effective procedure when the high rate of complications associated with this disease is given full consideration. With careful preoperative and postoperative planning, a highly successful outcome can be achieved. Noncemented shells and noncemented stems have shown durable long-term results.