Delayed arterial injury after hip replacement

Case report. A housewife aged 72 had a Howse total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis in 1974. The operation was described as ‘routine’ and on review six months after surgery the single word ‘cured’ was written in the notes. Two years later an abscess developed over the hip and disc harged spontaneously . Sinography confirmed communication with the femora! component. Discharge continued intermittently and pain on weight-bearing