Failure of Austin Moore hemiarthroplasty: total hip replacement as a treatment strategy.

Forty six patients who underwent conversion of their Austin Moore hemiarthroplasty to a total hip replacement were assessed clinically and radiologically. Forty patients requiring conversion had either groin or thigh pain. Operative findings showed acetabular cartilage degeneration and femoral loosening as the main pathological process causing their symptoms. Total hip replacement gave complete resolution of the symptoms in 41 patients. We propose early conversion to total joint arthroplasty in patients with painful hemiarthroplasties.