Abstract
Purpose: Treatment of Ficat III and IV femoral head necrosis is a serious challenge and a controversial issue due to the young age of the patients and disappointing results obtained with total hip arthroplasty (THA). We reviewed our experience with the cemented adjusted cup to identify factors leading to surgical revision and assess long-term clinical outcome.
Material and methods: Sixty hips presenting necrotic heads were treated by cemented adjusted cups. Mean age of the patients was 33.6 years (range 18–51); 23% women and 77% men. The Ficat classification was: grade II 6%, grade III 85%, grade IV 9%. Mean necrotic Kerboull angle was 192°. In addition, the status of the acetabular cartilage was recorded at surgery: grade I normal 17%, grade II fissuration 30%, grade IIIA fibrillation without osteophytes 28%, grade IIIB fibrillation with osteophytes 10%, grade IV partial erosion reaching subchondral bone 10%.
Results: At mean follow-up of 7.8 years (range 1 – 21 years), there were no cases of dislocation, femur neck fracture, or osteolysis. Mean UCLA score showed significant improvement in pain (from 4.5 to 8.1), walking (6.1 to 8.8), function (5.3 to 7.6), and activity (4.2 to 5.8). Five-, ten-, and fifteen-year survival rates were 81, 57, and 40% respectively. Fifteen hips required THA, twelve for acetabular cartilage wear, one for femoral loosening, and one for infection. A positive correlation (p = 0.005) was observed between the duration of signs preoperatively and degradation of the acetabular cartilage, suggesting a relationship also with shorter prosthesis survival. The Kerboull necrosis angle and Ficat grade were not correlated with prosthesis survival.
Discussion: Survival of the adjusted cup is better when symptoms have been perceptible for less than one year, probably because the acetabular cartilage is less damaged. These results are better than those with other conservative solutions such as osteotomy or vascularised graft which do not reach 80% survival at five years and which provide less effective pain relief. If necessary, conversion to a THA can be performed without compromising clinical outcome.
The abstracts were prepared by Docteur Jean Barthas. Correspondence should be addressed to him at Secrétariat de la Société S.O.F.C.O.T., 56 rue Boissonade, 75014 Paris.
