Fifteen of 18 cases who underwent conversion total hip prosthesis due to pa
inful hemiarthroplasty, between 1992 and 1997, were investigated retrospect
ively. The 13 (86.6%) women and two (13.4%) men (mean age, 59 years) were f
ollowed up for an average of 32 months. Pre-operative and post-operative Ha
rris hip scores were 36.4 (28 - 42) and 85.9 (69 - 98), respectively. In al
l cases the femoral component had more than 2 mm radiolucency in Gruen zone
s I, IV and VII, and five cases had acetabular protrusion; other cases had
cartilage erosion. In the last follow-up of conversion total hip prosthesis
, there was no radiolucency in either femoral or acetabular components. Com
paring our results of conversion total hip prosthesis with primary total hi
p prosthesis results for femoral neck fractures in the literature we conclu
de that, in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures, primary total hip
prosthesis has better results.