Total hip arthroplasty for rheumatoid arthritis in younger patients: 2,557 replacements in the Finnish Arthroplasty Register followed for 0-24 years.

BACKGROUND: The results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in young patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been reported in only a few studies. On a nationwide level, the outcome of THA in these patients is unknown. We evaluated the population-based survival of THA in patients under 55 years of age with RA and factors affecting the survival.

PATIENTS: Between 1980 and 2003, 2,557 primary THAs performed for RA in patients less than 55 years of age were reported to the Finnish Arthroplasty Register.

RESULTS: Proximally circumferentially porous-coated uncemented stems had a 15-year survival rate of 89% (95% CI 83-94) with aseptic loosening as endpoint. The risk of stem revision due to aseptic loosening was higher with cemented stems than with proximally porouscoated uncemented stems implanted during the same period (RR 2.4; p < 0.001). In contrast, Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of cup revision was significantly higher for all uncemented cup concepts than for all-polyethylene cemented cups with any cup revision as endpoint. There were no significant differences in survival between the THR concepts.

INTERPRETATIONS: Uncemented proximally circumferentially porous-coated stems and cemented all-poly-ethylene cups are currently the implants of choice for young patients with RA.