THE NORWEGIAN-ARTHROPLASTY-REGISTER - A SURVEY OF 17,444 HIP REPLACEMENTS 1987-1990

In Norway a national register for total hip replacements was establish ed in September 1987. Up till February 1991, 17,444 total hip replacem ents (THR) were reported, i.e., 140 THR/100,000 inhabitants/year. The median age of the patients was 70 years, and 69 percent were women. 87 percent were primary arthroplasties and 13 percent were revisions. Pr imary arthrosis was the diagnosis in 68 percent of the primary operati ons. The acetabular implants were uncemented in 17 percent and the fem oral implants in 12 percent of primary operations. In revisions, the i mplants were uncemented in 21 and 17 percent, respectively. The reason s for revision were loosening of components in 87 percent and deep inf ection in 4 percent. The Charnley prosthesis dominated with 49 percent of all implants. A total of 422 different designs and sizes of acetab ular implants, 398 femoral implants and 166 of caput designs and sizes were used. This large number of different types and designs seems unr easonable.