Dislocation following total hip arthroplasty

: Postoperative dislocation currently ranks as the most common clinically apparent complication of hip arthroplasty. The reported incidence has ranged from less than 1% to 10% in various clinical series. In primary total hip arthroplasty a 2% to 3% dislocation rate is probably representative of the overall occurrence. The experience of a single arthroplasty surgeon with dislocation is usually limited to at most a small number of cases annually. A thorough understanding of factors involved in dislocation assists in prevention and helps outline the strategy for surgical management in the recurrent case. Recent reports have addressed overall incidence, predisposing factors, and methods of preventing dislocation. (C) Lippincott-Raven Publishers.