[Medical malpractice in primary total hip arthroplasty : Why is there a medical malpractice clause?]

Abstract

The provision of a hip endoprosthesis for coxarthrosis is one of the most common medical procedures associated with treatment errors. These errors are most frequently identified in the surgical execution. The most crucial prerequisite for preventing treatment errors is correct and guideline-compliant indication. Additionally, proper execution and documentation of both risk disclosure and precautionary disclosure are essential. Patient-specific factors, such as comorbidities or anatomical peculiarities, must be taken into account, as they are identified during mandatory preoperative planning. For postoperative radiological measurement parameters (e.g., implant positioning and leg length), clear and universally valid target values with acceptable deviations have not been definitively established. However, recommended values help assess whether an implantation error is present. Furthermore, a causal relationship between damage (e.g., dislocation, muscle weakness) and implantation errors must be established.