Bilateral total hip arthroplasty: a single procedure.

A total of 196 patients with bilateral hip disease underwent the simultaneous bilateral total hip arthroplasty procedure (392 hips), compared with 427 patients with unilateral disease and one hip replaced. A multiple regression analysis showed no difference between the 2 groups in regard to age, sex, and preoperative diagnosis. The mean length of operation was 3 hours for the bilateral group and one hour and 15 minutes for the unilateral group, with a mean blood loss of 3 units and 0.5 units respectively (the majority of the patients were given hypotensive anesthesia. Post-operative complications revealed no differences in the phlebitis (1% for each group), clinical pulmonary emboli (1% for each group), dislocation (1% for unilateral and none for the bilateral group), and non-union of the greater trochanter (11% for the unilateral group and 12% for the bilateral group). The unilateral group revealed 25% ectopic ossification vs. 36% for the bilateral group (p < 0.008). The mean hospital stay was 14 days for the unilateral group and 16 days for the bilateral group, at respective costs of $4,137 and $5,780. There were signs of clinical loosening in 1% of both groups. The infection rate was 1% for both. An analysis of covariance revealed no follow-up differences between the 2 groups in regard to pain, abduction status, or functional capabilities, although the range of motion was better in the unilateral group (p < 0.001), as may be expected, with less initial range of motion, there was also more postoperative ectopic ossification. Replacement of both hips under one anesthetic benefits patients in that the postoperative complications are the same as for the procedure for one hip; the length of hospitalization and convalescence are only slightly longer; the postoperative follow-up shows no differences except for a slight restriction in range of motion for the bilateral group; and the cost represents a 30% savings over that of a unilateral hip performed twice.