The aims of this study were to assess the exposure and preservation of the abductor mechanism during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) using the posterior approach, and to evaluate gluteus maximus transfer to restore abductor function of chronically avulsed gluteus medius and minimus. A total of 519 patients (525 hips) underwent primary THA using the posterior approach, between 2009 and 2013. The patients were reviewed preoperatively and at two and five years postoperatively. Three patients had mild acute laceration of the gluteus medius caused by retraction. A total of 54 patients had mild chronic damage to the tendon (not caused by exposure), which was repaired with sutures through drill holes in the greater trochanter. A total of 41 patients had severe damage with major avulsion of the gluteus medius and minimus muscles, which was repaired with sutures through bone and a gluteus maximus flap transfer to the greater trochanter.Aims
Patients and Methods
This study reports the clinical outcome of reconstruction
of deficient abductor muscles following revision total hip arthroplasty
(THA), using a fresh–frozen allograft of the extensor mechanism
of the knee. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 11 consecutive
patients with a severe limp because of abductor deficiency which
was confirmed on MRI scans. The mean age of the patients (three
men and eight women) was 66.7 years (52 to 84), with a mean follow-up
of 33 months (24 to 41). Following surgery, two patients had no limp, seven had a mild
limp, and two had a persistent severe limp (p = 0.004). The mean
power of the abductors improved on the Medical Research Council
scale from 2.15 to 3.8 (p <
0.001). Pre-operatively, all patients
required a stick or walking frame; post-operatively, four patients
were able to walk without an aid. Overall, nine patients had severe
or moderate pain pre-operatively; ten patients had no or mild pain
post-operatively. At final review, the Harris hip score was good in five patients,
fair in two and poor in four. We conclude that using an extensor mechanism allograft is relatively
effective in the treatment of chronic abductor deficiency of the
hip after THA when techniques such as local tissue transfer are
not possible. Longer-term follow-up is necessary before the technique can be
broadly applied. Cite this article:
