Use of an Ilizarov Apparatus to Perform Closed Reduction of a Chronic Proximal Dislocation Following Total Hip Arthroplasty

Dislocation remains a major early perioperative complication of total hip arthroplasty, with a prevalence of 3.9% within the first six months as reported in a review of 58,521 patients in the Medicare population1. While the literature abounds with options for the treatment of recurrent dislocation after total hip arthroplasty, we are not aware of any report on the treatment of chronic proximal dislocation after total hip arthroplasty. We report the case of a patient in whom this complication was successfully treated with gradual closed reduction with use of an Ilizarov distraction technique. The patient was informed that data concerning this case would be submitted for publication.