AIM: To assess the role of ultrasound in management of patients with symptomatic total hip replacements (THR). MATERIALS AND METHOD: 26 patients with symptoms following THR (2–11 years post-surgery) were examined sonographically using a 5–6 MHz curvilinear transducer (Diasonics Prisma) over a 12 month period. Any fluid collection was aspirated for bacteriology and any soft tissue masses were core biopsied for histological assessment. Ultrasound appearances as well as transducer compression tenderness were noted. RESULTS: Ultrasound diagnoses included: wear debris granulomata, 14 (definite, 5; probable, 6; possible, 3); prosthetic infection, 3 (2 with sequestra at level of femoral component tip); trochanteric wire problems, 10 (granulation tissue formation, 3; bursa formation, 3; infection, 2; haematoma, 1; compression tenderness without focal ultrasound abnormality, 1); femoral shaft fracture, 1; greater trochanter fracture, 1; acetabular screw granulation tissue, 1; heterotopic ossification, 3; ?ceramic femoral head fracture, 1; normal study (but possible early loosening on X-ray), 3. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound is an extremely useful method of initial evaluation of symptomatic total hip replacements.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.