Dislocation after bipolar hemiarthroplasty of the hip.

Although bipolar hemiarthroplasty of the hip is a frequently performed procedure, little information is available about the frequency of postoperative dislocation and its treatment. For this study, 1,934 hips treated consecutively with primary bipolar hemiarthroplasty were reviewed. A postoperative dislocation developed in 29 patients (1.5%): during the first month after surgery in 24 patients and between 1 month and 5 years after surgery in five patients. Of the 29 dislocations, 25 were successfully reduced with with routine closed methods. Among these 25 hips, 13 (52%) subsequently redislocated, and 7 of these required operative treatment for the recurrent dislocation. Dislocation after primary bipolar hemiarthroplasty is infrequent, can usually be reduced by routine closed methods, but is associated with a high rate of recurrent dislocation.