Posterior Mini-Incision With Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Nine to Ten Year Follow Up Study

The question has been raised as to whether small incision surgery will compromise long term results of total hip arthroplasty. We report nine to ten years' outcome with posterior mini-incision. Radiographs were measured for component position, polyethylene wear, fixation, and osteolysis. Sixty-two of the original 86 patients (76 of 100 hips) were alive and available for study with 17 patients deceased (with known results) and seven (8%) lost to follow-up. The result was rated as excellent in 70 of 75 remaining hips (93%). Eighty-nine of 93 hips (96%) with known results had the original implants. Radiographically, wear was a mean 0.015 ± 0.009 mm/year, and no hip had impending failure. There were four revisions, 2 for dislocation, 1 for fracture, and 1 for loose cup.