Vaerdien af "et års kontrol" efter cementeret total hoftealloplastik. Kliniske og økonomiske konsekvenser af en rutinekontrol

The need for, expenses of and consequences of one year follow-up after total cemented hip replacements with posterior access are reviewed. A total of 150 patients were registered prospectively and consecutively with Charnley scores preoperatively, three months and one year after operation. The Charnley scores increased significantly from the preoperative values till the follow-up at three months and from the follow-up at three months till follow-up at one year (p less than 0.001). In five patients, (3%) follow-up examination after one year was of significance. Anisomelia was corrected in all three by means of adjustment of footwear. The cost of follow-up examination after one year is estimated to be 630 Danish crowns (approximately 53 pounds) per patient. It is concluded that follow-up examination after total cemented hip replacement is not necessary. Alteration of follow-up examination after one year to follow-up examination after five years for patients who were under 60 years at the time of operation in order to reveal aseptic loosening would imply that only 10% of the patients in this material should be followed-up.