Abstract
Introduction
Bulk bone grafting of the cup is commonly used in total hip arthroplasty (THA) for developmental dysplasia. However, it carries a risk of the graft collapse in the mid-term or long-term results. The purpose of this study is to describe our new bulk bone grafting technique and review the radiographic and clinical results.
Patients and Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 85 hips in 74 patients who had undergone bulk bone grafting in total hip arthroplasty for developmental dysplasia between 2008 and 2013. We excluded patients who had any previous surgeries or performed THA with the femoral shortening osteotomy. According to the Crowe classification, 4 hips were classified as Type 1, 28 as Type 2, 35 as Type 3, and 18 as Type 4. Follow-up was at a mean of 4.0 years (1 to 6.1). The surgery was performed using the direct anterior approach on a standard surgical table. The acetabulum was reamed for as close to the original acetabulum as possible. The pressfit cementless cup was impacted into the original acetabulum. After the pressfit fixation of the cup was achieved, two or three screws were used to reinforce the fixation. The superior defect of the acetabulum was packed with sufficient amount of morselized bone graft. Then, the bulk bone was placed on the morselized bone graft and fixed with one screw. Post-operatively, there were no restrictions to movement or position. On the first day after surgery, the patient was allowed to walk with full weight-bearing. We measured the height of the hip center from the interteardrop line and the pelvic height on anteroposterior roentgenograms of the pelvis and calculated the ratio of the hip center to the pelvic height. We defined the anatomical hip center as the height of the center less than 15% of the pelvic height.
Results
The mean height of the hip center was 10.2 (4.1∼18.0)% of the pelvic height and the 81 (95.2%) cups were placed within the anatomical hip center. We observed no collapsed grafts, no severe absorption of the grafts, and no migration of the cup at the last follow-up.
Conclusion
In our technique, there is no concern of the bulk bone graft collapse even in the long-term results, because the cup is not supported by the bulk bone graft but by the host bone with the pressfit and additional screws. Moreover, 95.2% of all cups were placed within the anatomical hip center. In conclusion, our new bulk bone graft technique would be simple to perform and an excellent option for the reconstruction of the acetabulum in patients with severe dysplasia.
