Comparison of complications of total hip arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and osteoarthritis.

Between 1971 and 1985, 3080 arthroplasties were performed. The authors analyze patients reoperated because of primary surgery complications. Of the primary arthroplasties (2889), there were 1788 operations performed for primary osteoarthritis, and 379 hip replacements for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Reoperation rates in both groups were the same (3.4%). In the group with rheumatoid arthritis, the rate was 1.45%, much lower than the osteoarthritic group.