Complications after total hip replacement. The contralateral limb.

Six patients who had a total hip replacement, as well as a trochanteric osteotomy, while they were in the lateral decubitus position had complications involving the contralateral side. The complications included transient paresthesias, massive swelling of the thigh with myonecrosis, acute renal failure secondary to myoglobinuria, and arterial insufficiency that resulted in a below-the-knee amputation. In order to elucidate the causes of the complications, the external pressure of the contralateral femoral triangle and the blood flow to the contralateral foot were monitored intraoperatively in seventeen patients. The results supported the postulate that pressure at the groin is increased intraoperatively and that this can cause vascular compromise. Other proposed causes of the complications were pre-existing vascular disease, obesity, the lateral decubitus position of the patient on the operating table, and the use of hypotensive anesthesia. We found several techniques that may minimize complications in the contralateral limb during operations on the hip.