The choice of arthroplasty for secondary osteoarthritis of the hip joint following avascular necrosis of the femoral head in sicklers

Secondary osteoarthritis of the hip joint often complicates avascular necrosis of the femoral head in young adults suffering from sickle cell anemia. These patients, particularly in our environment, are usually reluctant to use walking aids like crutches to alleviate the pain since they believe that these devices are temporary measures. They often demand long-term solutions which border on surgery. The surgical procedures carried out in these patients range from osteotomies to arthroplasties. With the advent of various forms of hip implants, osteotomies are not as popular in modern-day orthopedic practice. In this series, we treated five patients with secondary osteoarthritis in six hip joints (bilateral in one patient) using cementless bipolar arthroplasty with good outcome. This implant is available and affordable in Nigeria, and the use of a cementless implant obviates damage to the acetabulum and may make revision surgeries less hazardous both for the surgeon and the patient.