Abstract
Background
Revision total hip arthroplasty is a technically demanding procedure and especially removing a well fixed femoral stem is a challenge for revision surgeons. There are various types of trochanteric osteotomies used during revision surgery; extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) is being more popular.
Aim
The aim of this study is to look at types of trochanteric osteotomy used during the revision surgery. We looked at the success and failure of these osteotomies. Failure of the osteotomy is defined by complete pull off by the hip abductors resulting in osteotomy fragment is no contact with the femur. We sought to assess the time to healing of osteotomy and number of cables used.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed the hospital theatre database and identified 97 patients who underwent revision hip surgery from June 2008 to December 2015. Among these 35 patients (36% of patients) had trochanteric osteotomy for either extraction of femoral stem or removal of cemented mantle.
Results
Most common cause of revision was aseptic loosening in 22 cases (62%) followed by peri prosthetic fracture 6 cases (17%), 1st stage of revision surgery in infective cause in 4 cases (11%).
Depending on the length of the osteotomy performed we divided the patients into two groups. The first group had osteotomy just around the greater trochanter, which is called short trochanteric osteotomy group and the second group had extended trochanteric osteotomy where the osteotomy length is at least of 15cms and preserving the vastus lateralis attachment to the osteotomy. 7 patients had short trochanteric osteotomy and remaining 28 patients had extended trochanteric osteotomy. In the short trochanteric osteotomy group had 4 out of 6 patients had failure of the osteotomy repair. In extended trochanteric osteotomy group, there was one immediate failure and another one had delayed trochanteric pull off out of 28 patients (93% success rate). The time taken for the osteotomy to heal in short trochanteric osteotomy group was 8 months where as in the extended osteotomy group it was 5 months. The mean number of cables used was 3 in both groups. There was no subsidence seen during the post op follow up in either group.
Conclusion
Our study concluded that ETO is a safe procedure with a low complication rate rather than short trochanteric osteotomy.
Implications
Awareness about the biomechanics of ETO and its indications can make ETO an important tool in the revision surgeon's armamentarium.
