Abstract
Introduction
Acetabular dysplasia is typically characterised by insufficient antero-superior femoral head coverage. It is postulated (yet unproven) that patients with dysplasia compensate by reducing pelvic tilt (anterior pelvic rotation), effectively retroverting their acetabulum to improve antero-superior cover. We aimed to 1) define pelvic tilt (PT) in patients with bilateral and unilateral dysplasia, and 2) quantify PT changes following a successful periacetabular osteotomy (PAO).
Patients/Materials and Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 16 patients (14 females) who underwent successful, bilateral, staged, PAOs (32 PAOs). These cases were matched for age and gender with 32 unilaterally dysplastic hips that underwent successful PAO for a similar degree of acetabular dysplasia as per pre-operative imaging. Supine and AP radiographs pre-PAO and at latest follow-up were used to measure centre-edge-angle (CEA) and Tönnis-angle (TA). PT was measured using two validated methods (Sacro-Femoral-Pubic (SFP) angle and Pubic-Symphysis to Sacro-Iliac (PS-SI) Index with excellent correlation (ρ=0.8, p<0.001).
Results
Post-operatively, the TA/CEA improved from 20°±8/11°±9 to 5°±5/33°±6, respectively, with similar improvements between the unilateral and bilateral hips (p=0.9). PT pre-operatively was similar between unilaterally (8°±5) and bilaterally dysplastic hips (7°±5) (p=0.87). The change in PT was −1°±3; changing by >5° (all increased) in 6 patients (13%; 3 with unilateral PAOs and 3 with bilateral PAOs).
Discussion
Patients with unilateral and bilateral hip dysplasia demonstrate similarities in PT. In 87% of cases PT remained the same following PAO, therefore was unlikely to have been compensatory. PT increased in 13% of cases post-PAO illustrating that a change in PT is possible and suggesting that the reduced tilt pre-PAO may have been compensatory to improve functional femoral head coverage in these patients.
Conclusion
This is the first clinical and radiological evidence that patients with bilateral or unilateral dysplasia demonstrate similar pre- and post-operative PT, which remains unchanged in almost 90% of cases.
