An evaluation of intra- and post-operative blood loss in total hip arthroplasty at the national orthopaedic hospital, Lagos

Background: Severe hip pain with associated significant functional limitation is the major indication for total hip replacement, a rewarding and gratifying procedure. However, significant blood loss can occur in the intra- and post-operative periods, posing a major challenge and necessitating prompt restoration of circulating blood volume to minimize morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate blood loss after primary total hip replacement, and to determine the effect of surgical time on blood loss. Patients and Methods: A prospective study of blood loss after total hip arthroplasty in 41 patients. All cases were primary total hip arthroplasty done by one surgeon. Intra- and post-operative blood losses were recorded in two groups of patients (surgical time <2 h and surgical time >2 h), and the effect of these on blood loss was evaluated. Results: The mean intra- and post-operative blood losses were 1222.7 ml and 574.3 ml, respectively. These showed a strong positive correlation with total blood loss (r = 0.790, P< 0.001 and r = 0.517, P< 0.001). Higher intra- and post-operative blood losses were recorded in patients with surgical time >2 h, with a significant difference on postoperative days 2 and 3 (P = 0.003 and P = 0.014, respectively). Conclusion: Blood loss in total hip replacement is an important factor and may be influenced by a shorter surgical time

Arthroplastie totale de hanche dans l'osteonecrose aseptique du drepanocytaire au Senegal : serie de 48 protheses

Trente-huit patients drepanocytaires presentant une osteonecrose aseptique de la tete femorale ont beneficie d'une arthroplastie totale de la hanche sur une periode de 7 ans; soit une serie consecutive de 48 protheses cimentees. Avec un recul moyen de 5 ans; l'arthroplastie a permis d'obtenir dans 64des cas une fonction normale (score PMA = 18); et dans 32des cas un PMA superieur a 15. Le gain sur la douleur etait tres important puisque l'indolence a ete obtenue dans plus de 94des cas; de meme que sur la marche car 85des patients n'avaient pas de limitation du perimetre de marche. Sur le plan radiologique; 36des cupules et 29des tiges presentaient des liseres. Les complications ont ete retrouvees chez 19des patients; dominees par les descellements et les luxations. Les resultats fonctionnels obtenus dans la serie; avec un taux de complication important mais qui reste inferieur a ceux deja publies dans la litterature pour cette pathologie; incitent a retenir l'arthroplastie comme traitement de choix de l'osteonecrose aseptique du drepanocytaire au stade 3 et 4 du sujet jeune. Ils amenent a discuter le choix de l'implant; et du couple de frottement