Bipolar arthroplasty for recurrent total hip instability.

Bipolar arthroplasty has been reported as a method for correction of recurrent dislocations of total hip replacements. This retrospective review of six patients with multiple dislocations of total hip replacements treated by conversion to simple bipolar hip arthroplasty confirms a 100% success rate in eliminating hip instability during a follow-up period of 2 1/2 to 5 years. However, given the high rate of postoperative discomfort and abnormal gait associated with this procedure, it should be used only when other revision techniques prove to be unsuitable.