FEMUR MORPHOLOGY IN PATIENTS WITH SEQUELAE OF CONGENITAL HIP DISLOCATION: A RADIOGRAPHIC AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ANALYSIS OF 312 CASES

Abstract

Purpose: Implantation of a prosthesis on a remodelled femur can cause technical difficulties affecting the outcome of the arthroplasty. We performed a tridimensional study of the femoral anatomy before prosthesis implantation for sequelar congenital hip dislocation.

Material and method: The series included 312 hips in 262 patients. The same radiography and computed tomography work-up was perfomred in all patients. There were 288 women and 84 men, men age 56 years. Mean weight was 66 kg and mean height was 163 cm. The crowe classification was 195 dysplasia, 123 dislocations (41% class I, 27% class II, 13% class III, 19% class IV). Telemetric measurements were: femoral isthma, the centre of the lesser trochanter, limb length discrepancy, the cephalo-cervico-diaphyseal angle. Computed tomographic measurements were: anterio-posterior and mediolateral dimensions and femur funneling, helitorsion between the bichondylar plane and the upper femur, anteroposterior diameter of the acetabulum.

Results: The mean mediolateral and anteroposterior diameters of the femoral canal at the isthma were 9.8 and 13.1 cm respectively in dysplasia and 9.3 and 12.6 cm, 9.4 and 12.7, and 9.7 and 13.6 cm in I, II, and III–IV congenital dislocations respectively. The femoral funneling index varied from 1.9 to 7.6 in dysplasia and from 2.6 to 7.9, 2.1 to 8.4 and 2.1 to 8.7 in I, II, and III–IV congenital dislocations respectively. The mean cephalo-cervico-diaphyseal angle was 129.3°, 131.9°, 136.8°, and 127.4° respectively. Maximal leg length discrepancy was 45, 57, 71, and 82 cm respectively. Mean helitorsion was 22.9° (1°–52°), 36.4° (8°–86°), 43.2° (2°–82°- and 38.4° (6°–68°) respectively. The mean anteroposterior diameter of the acetabulum was 52, 51.2, 53.1; and 49.6 cm respectively.

Discussion and conclusion: The dysplastic or dislocated femur is narrower than the normal femur with wide variations in funneling and cephalo-cervico-diphyseal angle. The mean difference in leg length increases gradually with helitorsion but with wide individual variability, irrespective of the grade. These tridimensional anatomic data can be useful for predicting difficulties in prosthetic treatment of these patients.