Trochanteric advancement for recurrent dislocation after total hip arthroplasty.

Twenty-one patients had trochanteric advancement after experiencing an average of 3.9 dislocations in a mean period of 46 weeks following total hip arthroplasty. Before trochanteric advancement was performed, component malposition and mechanical impingement were excluded as causes of dislocation. Radiographic measurements revealed that the trochanter was advanced an average of 16 +/- 7.7 mm (1 SD). Four patients, all with rheumatoid arthritis, had trochanteric migration greater than 1 cm. Seventeen of the 21 hips had no further dislocations following trochanteric advancement, with mean follow-up period of 2.7 years. Two patients dislocated because of extremes in hip position and had no further dislocations. Two patients dislocated who had trochanteric migration greater than 1 cm. Only one patients with a technically satisfactory trochanteric advancement continued to dislocate repeatedly. In patients without component malposition or obvious sources of impingement, trochanteric advancement is an effective and safe procedure for prevention of recurrent dislocations after total hip arthroplasty.