Moore hemiarthroplasty functioning for 33 years: a case report.

The Moore monopolar hemiarthroplasty is useful in the management of patients with femoral neck fractures, but long-term results may be associated with acetabular cartilage degeneration and hip pain. The authors report a case of long-term function of a Moore hemiarthroplasty. A 61-year-old woman sustained a fracture of the neck of the femur, which was treated initially with pinning. One year later, because the operation had failed, the patient underwent a Moore hemiarthroplasty. The prosthesis functioned well for 32 years, when she experienced increasing pain in the groin and a decreasing range of hip motion. Radiologic examination showed thinning of the acetabular cartilage so a total hip arthroplasty was performed. This case demonstrates that a unipolar arthroplasty is capable of long-term function, and with current improvements in stem fixation improved longevity can be expected.