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

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.

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.

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%).

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.