We studied the effect of surgical experience on the dislocation rate after 4230 primary total hip arthroplasties (THAs) all performed using the posterior approach at three orthopaedic centres at major county hospitals. There were 129 postoperative (3%) dislocations.Twice the number of dislocations were registered for inexperienced surgeons as for their more experienced colleagues. This frequency of dislocation levelled off with increasing numbers of operations and remained constant after approximately 30. For every ten primary THAs performed annually, the risk of dislocation decreased by 50%.

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Despite the extensive use of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) for thromboprophylaxis, only two serious complications have thus far been reported where spinal haematomas were incurred after epidural and spinal blocks in patients on such treatment. In our patient, who was on thromboprophylaxis with the LMWH drug enoxaparin, catheter epidural anaesthesia was abandoned due to a bloody tap and superseded by spinal anaesthesia. More than 40 hours later she had developed a paraparesis and complete sensory loss in the lower extremities. The MRT image showed haematomas epi- and subdurally, as well as subarachnoidally, but no epidural bleeding was seen at laminectomy.

In 789 courses of antibiotic prophylaxis in hip arthroplasty surgery, either dicloxacillin (Diclocil) or cloxacillin (Ekvacillin) was used during two different time periods. The surgical methods, anesthesia, preoperative and postoperative care of the patients, and laboratory procedures were the same all the time. Changes in creatinine values were used as a method for evaluating the impact on renal function. When using dicloxacillin, a pathologic increase of creatinine was noted in 12 and 13 percent by two different calculation methods. Sixteen patients (4.2 percent) had a severe creatinine increase during the first postoperative week after dicloxacillin prophylaxis, requiring dialysis in 2 patients. Cloxacillin had only a marginal impact on renal function. Patients above aged 70 years were more vulnerable as regards renal function than younger persons, and the impairment was slightly dose related in all ages. In the dicloxacillin group, preoperative use of antiphlogistic drugs was correlated with reduced postoperative renal function.