VALUE OF THE FALSE LATERAL VIEW OF THE PELVIS IN THE MONITORING OF TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENTS

The authors used a retrospective series of cases of total hip replacem ent with a follow-up of between 6 and 12 years, including 10 under-goi ng reoperation for slipping of the prosthesis, to define the value of the false lateral view of the pelvis in the monitoring of such patient s. This view provides earlier detection than AP views of wearing of po lyethylene which manifests itself by penetration of the femoral head i nto the acetabular implant. This penetration, which can be measured ra diologically, is better visualised in the false lateral view of the pe lvis for simple reasons of radiological incidences. The false lateral view of the pelvis has another use in the monitoring of total hip repl acements. It enables visualisation of the posterior part of the acetab ulum which is generally the site of first appearance of the earliest s igns of slipping in the form of a thin line.