Abstract
Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in neglected congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) constitutes a challenging procedure, with surgical difficulties and complications. The purpose of this study was to analyse the complications of THAs in CDH.
Between June 1983 and September 2002, 418 THAs were performed in 356 patients with CDH, with a mean follow-up 108 (7–237) months. The mean age at surgery was 53.3 (24–79) years with 325 females and 31 males. 83 patients had CDH in high position. 307 arthroplasties were cementless, 39 cemented and 72 hybrids. 40 stems were custom made. The cup always was positioned at the true acetabulum. 24 shortening osteotomies of the femur, 8 corrective supracondylar and 6 trochanteric osteotomies were performed.
Preoperatively the average Merle d’Aubigne-Postel hip score was 1.1 for pain, 4.8 for range of motion and 3.1 for walking ability. Postoperatively the average hip score was 5.2, 4.7 and 5.3 respectively. The average length discrepancy was 8 cm (3–12) preoperatively and 1.5 cm remained in 8 patients.
Complications included 7 intraoperative fractures of the femur, 12 dislocations, 4 peroneal nerve palsies that recovered, 25 heterotopic ossifications, 7 deep vein thromboses, 3 pulmonary embolisms, early mechanical loosening in 4 cemented and 10 cementless cups and 3 infections. Complications were diminished dramatically last years due to improved surgical technique, new available implants and preoperative evaluation of the hip with CT and CAD-CAM-CAE study that allowed better surgical planning with trial stem implantation from a series of stem designs and custom made femoral components manufacturing.
The abstracts were prepared by Eleni Koutsoukou. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Hellenic Association of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (HAOST), 20, A. Fleming str, 15123 Marousi, Athens, Greece.
