CROSS-OVER SIGN AFTER ROTATIONAL ACETABULAR OSTEOTOMY FOR DYSPLASIA OF THE HIP

Abstract

Background: A retroverted acetabulum has been hypothesized as a cause of osteoarthritis. This study was performed to evaluate whether radiographical cross-over sign influence the painful femoro-acetabular impingement or the radiographical progression of osteoarhritis after rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) for dysplastic hip.

Methods: Between 1987 and 1999, 104 patients (115 hips) who had pre- or early stage osteoarthritis of the hip due to dysplasia underwent a RAO. There were 99 women and five men; their mean age at the time of surgery was 34.7 years. The mean follow-up period was 13 years. Clinical follow-up was performed with use of the system of Merle d’Aubigne and the impingement sign was evaluated. Radiographical analyses included measurements of the center-edge angle, acetabular roof angle, head lateralization index, joint congruency, cross-over sign, posterior wall sign, acetabular index of depth to width, pistol grip deformity and femoral head-femoral neck ratio.

Results: The mean clinical score improved significantly from 14.6 preoperatively to 17.0 at follow-up. The impingement sign at the follow-up was observed in 14 hips (12.2%). The center-edge angle improved significantly from mean −0.6 degrees to a postoperative mean of 34 degrees. The acetabular roof angle improved from 30 degrees to 2.2 degrees, and head lateralization index from 0.64 to 0.60. The cross-over sign was observed in 8 hips (7.0%) preoperatively and in 49 hips (42.6%) postoperatively. The posterior wall sign was observed in 70 hips (60.9%) preoperatively and observed in 73 hips (63.5%) postoperatively. The mean preoperative acetabular index of depth to width was 35.5% and the mean preoperative femoral head to femoral neck ratio was 1.49. The pistol grip deformity was observed in only 4 hips (3.5%) preoperatively. The impingement sign after the RAO was positive significantly in the postoperative cross-over sign positive hips (p=0.0074). Radiographical progression of osteoarthritis was observed in 11 hips (cross over sign positive; 7 hips, cross over sign negative; 4 hips). The Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis predicted a survival rate of 84.6 % at 15 years. The only factors significantly associated with radiographic signs of progression of osteoarthritis after RAO were fair (rather than excellent and good) postoperative joint congruency (p< 0.0001) and age at surgery (p=0.0042). Presence of postoperative cross-over sign had no effect on the outcome (p=0.2073).

Conclusions: Although there was no significant radiographical progression of osteoarthritis despite a significant retroversion in most cases, the goal of RAO should be a correct alignment of the acetabulum including a correct version with a negative cross-over sign.