Assess union rate, complications, and outcomes of large series of contemporary extended trochanteric osteotomies (ETOs) performed during revision THAs. From 2003 to 2013, 612 ETOs were performed during revision THAs using 2 techniques. 367 were Paprosky type and 245 were Wagner type. Indications were aseptic loosening (65%), periprosthetic joint infection (18%), periprosthetic fracture (6%), femoral implant fracture (5%), and other (6%). Mean age 69 years, 58% male. Median follow-up 5 years (range, 2.1 to 13 years). Mean Harris Hip Scores increased from 57 preoperatively to 77 at latest follow-up (p=0.0001). Radiographic union of the extended osteotomy occurred in 98%. There were 9 ETO nonunions. Mean time to union of the distal transverse osteotomy was 5.9 months (range, 1 month − 2 years). Mean trochanteric osteotomy fragment migration prior to union was 3 mm (range, 0–29 mm). Over 1 cm of migration occurred in 7.4%. Intraoperative fracture of the ETO diaphyseal fragment occurred in 4%, and postoperative greater trochanter fractures in 8.8%. Other complications: dislocation in 5.7% and infection in 3.4%. Dislocation occurred in 19 of 462 with ETO migration < 1 cm and 4 of 39 with ETO migration ≥1 cm (p=0.08). Ten year survivorship free of revision for aseptic femoral loosening, free of any component removal or revision, and free of reoperation were 97%, 91%, and 82%, respectively. The union rate after ETO was high and notable trochanteric migration was infrequent. The most common complication was fracture intraoperatively or postoperatively of the osteotomy fragment

Introduction. Limb Length discrepancy after total hip replacement has been reported to happen in 1–27% of cases with differences up to 70mm. Occasionally revision THR has been used to achieve limb length equalisation, especially when patients are symptomatic with hip/back pain, neurologic symptoms or instability. However, in presence of a well-functioning, pain free hip without hip symptoms, revision THR for shortening can lead to problems with decrease in offset or stability. An option in these cases would be a distal shortening osteotomy of femur. Materials and Methods. From 2005 to 2014 five shortening osteotomies were done for LLD with limb lengthening of ipsilateral side following THR. All patients had well-functioning THRs with and no complications as dislocations or nerve symptoms. A distal metaphyseal shortening osteotomy, fixed using a 95 degree blade plate, was chosen for better healing at this level and ease of surgery. Results. Cause of LLD – Patient 1 had ‘neck preserving’ Hip replacement and post-operative lengthening. Patient 2 had Bilateral DDH with B/L THR, but with sub-trochanteric shortening on one side and not the other. Patient 3 had Bilateral DDH treated with THR with high hip centre on one side and at site of native cup on the other. Further two patients had total hip replacements for DDH. The average lengthening was 28mm (25 – 32mm). No patients had neuro-vascular compromise. All achieved radiological and clinical union by 3 months. At one year all patients were weight bearing without pain or discomfort and had full range of movement at knee. One patient required removal of plate due to discomfort that resolved following plate removal. Conclusion. Our series of patients demonstrate that in cases with symptomatic limb lengthening in presence of an otherwise well-functioning THR, shortening osteotomy of distal metaphysis of femur is a viable option

The treatment of substantial proximal femoral bone loss in young patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is challenging. We retrospectively analysed the outcome of 28 patients (30 hips) with DDH who underwent revision total hip replacement (THR) in the presence of a deficient proximal femur, which was reconstructed with an allograft prosthetic composite. The mean follow-up was 15 years (8.5 to 25.5). The mean number of previous THRs was three (1 to 8). The mean age at primary THR and at the index reconstruction was 41 years (18 to 61) and 58.1 years (32 to 72), respectively. The indication for revision included mechanical loosening in 24 hips, infection in three and peri-prosthetic fracture in three.

Six patients required removal and replacement of the allograft prosthetic composite, five for mechanical loosening and one for infection. The survivorship at ten, 15 and 20 years was 93% (95% confidence interval (CI) 91 to 100), 75.5% (95% CI 60 to 95) and 75.5% (95% CI 60 to 95), respectively, with 25, eight, and four patients at risk, respectively. Additionally, two junctional nonunions between the allograft and host femur required bone grafting and plating.

An allograft prosthetic composite affords a good long-term outcome in the management of proximal femoral bone loss in revision THR in patients with DDH, while preserving distal host bone.

We studied the effect of trochanteric osteotomy in 192 total hip replacements in 140 patients with congenital hip disease. There was bony union in 158 hips (82%), fibrous union in 29 (15%) and nonunion in five (3%). The rate of union had a statistically significant relationship with the position of reattachment of the trochanter, which depended greatly on the pre-operative diagnosis. The pre-operative Trendelenburg gait substantially improved in all three disease types (dysplasia, low and high dislocation) and all four categories of reattachment position. A persistent Trendelenburg gait post-operatively was noticed mostly in patients with defective union (fibrous or nonunion). Acetabular and femoral loosening had a statistically significant relationship with defective union and the position of reattachment of the trochanter.

These results suggest that the complications of trochanteric osteotomy in total hip replacement for patients with congenital hip disease are less important than the benefits of this surgical approach.

We evaluated all cases involving the combined use of a subtrochanteric derotational femoral shortening osteotomy with a cemented Exeter stem performed at our institution. With severe developmental dysplasia of the hip an osteotomy is often necessary to achieve shortening and derotation of the proximal femur. Reduction can be maintained with a 3.5 mm compression plate while the implant is cemented into place. Such a plate was used to stabilise the osteotomy in all cases. Intramedullary autograft helps to prevent cement interposition at the osteotomy site and promotes healing. There were 15 female patients (18 hips) with a mean age of 51 years (33 to 75) who had a Crowe IV dysplasia of the hip and were followed up for a mean of 114 months (52 to 168). None was lost to follow-up. All clinical scores were collected prospectively. The Charnley modification of the Merle D’Aubigné-Postel scores for pain, function and range of movement showed a statistically significant improvement from a mean of 2.4 (1 to 4), 2.3 (1 to 4), 3.4 (1 to 6) to 5.2 (3 to 6), 4.4 (3 to 6), 5.2 (4 to 6), respectively. Three acetabular revisions were required for aseptic loosening; one required femoral revision for access. One osteotomy failed to unite at 14 months and was revised successfully. No other case required a femoral revision. No postoperative sciatic nerve palsy was observed.

Cemented Exeter femoral components perform well in the treatment of Crowe IV dysplasia with this procedure.

We identified five (2.3%) fractures of the stem in a series of 219 revision procedures using a cementless, cylindrical, extensively porous-coated, distally-fixed femoral stem. Factors relating to the patients, the implant and the operations were compared with those with intact stems. Finite-element analysis was performed on two of the fractured implants.

Factors associated with fracture of the stem were poor proximal bone support (type III–type IV; p = 0.001), a body mass index > 30; (p = 0.014), a smaller diameter of stem (< 13.5 mm; p = 0.007) and the use of an extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO 4/5: p = 0.028). Finite-element analysis showed that the highest stresses on the stem occurred adjacent to the site of the fracture. The use of a strut graft wired over an extended trochanteric osteotomy in patients lacking proximal femoral cortical support decreased the stresses on the stem by 48%.

We recommend the use of a strut allograft in conjunction with an extended trochanteric osteotomy in patients with poor proximal femoral bone stock.