THE UNCEMENTED GERARD BIPOLAR DOUBLE-CUP ARTHROPLASTY OF THE HIP - A 5-YEAR TO 11-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Between 1978 and 1984, 183 hips in 154 patients with the uncemented Ge rard double-cup arthroplasty were resurfaced. The clinical and radiogr aphic results of the 106 original arthroplasties were reviewed after a median follow-up period of 98 months. Although many of these patients had clinically improved immediately, the Harris Hip score decreased s ignificantly in most hips in subsequent years. No correlation was foun d between the clinical score and radiographic complications. Major rev ision surgery with removal of the double cup was performed in 54 of 18 3 patients, making the cumulative success rate after 132 months only 4 8%. Survival was significantly greater in patients younger than 50 yea rs of age and in patients with a low body weight (Quetelet index less than 25). This high failure rate eliminates the Gerard double-cup arth roplasty, except possibly for the patient with a destructive inflammat ory arthropathy for whom there are no other surgical alternatives.