Recurrent Dislocation After Revision Total Hip Replacement with a Large Prosthetic Femoral Head

Surgical treatment choices for recurrent dislocation of the hip include isolated soft-tissue tightening1 or revision of prosthetic components with use of an array of options, including standard components implanted in satisfactory position1,2, constrained acetabular devices1,3, elevated-rim polyethylene components3,4, and the use of larger prosthetic femoral heads3,5. The last treatment option is facilitated by the recent availability of larger prosthetic heads and cups that use highly cross-linked polyethylene6,7. We report the case of a patient who had recurrent dislocation after a total hip replacement, in which the orientation of the acetabular component was suboptimal and had been unsuccessfully treated initially with a large femoral head. The patient was informed that data concerning her case would be submitted for publication.