FEMORAL-HEAD HEIGHT LOSS: A STUDY OF THE RELATIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOME OF ITS DETERMINANTS IN HIP DEGENERATION

Abstract

In an attempt to determine the relative significance of possible determinants of bone destruction in degenerative hip disease, eighty-nine patients coming to total hip replacement were studied prospectively. The degree of femoral-head height loss was compared with the configuration of the joint, the patient's age, weight and sex, the pre-operative dose of indomethacin and phenylbutazone, and his habitual alcohol intake. In patients with congruous degenerate joints there was a striking correlation between femoral-head height loss and the patient's weight. This relationship was not seen in patients with shallow acetabula and lateral femoral head subluxation, nor in patients with protrusio acetabuli. None of the other possible determinants was found to be related to femoral-head height loss.