NEED FOR BILATERAL ARTHROPLASTY FOR COXARTHROSIS - 1,477 REPLACEMENTSIN 1,199 PATIENTS FOLLOWED FOR 0-14 YEARS

During the 10-year period 1981-1990, 1,199 patients in the county of S outh Jutland, Denmark, had 1,477 primary total hip arthroplasties (THA ) performed because of primary arthrosis (OA). The patients were follo wed until the end of 1994, with a mean follow-up of 5.6 (0-14) years. Bilateral operations were performed on 356 patients, whereas 248 patie nts had died with only 1 THA. The cumulated risk of replacement of the contralateral hip was approximately 0.15 1 year after replacement of the first hip, 0.20 after 2 years, 0.29 after 5 years and 0.47 after 1 0 years, respectively. During the follow-up period, the demand for a T HA of the contralateral hip continued to be approximately 15 times hig her than in the general population.