Objectives. Acetabular component orientation in total hip arthroplasty (THA) influences results. Intra-operatively, the natural arthritic acetabulum is often used as a reference to position the acetabular component. Detailed information regarding its orientation is therefore essential. The aim of this study was to identify the acetabular inclination and anteversion in arthritic hips. Methods. Acetabular inclination and anteversion in 65 symptomatic arthritic hips requiring THA were measured using a computer navigation system. All patients were Caucasian with primary osteoarthritis (29 men, 36 women). The mean age was 68 years (SD 8). Mean inclination was 50.5° (SD 7.8) in men and 52.1° (SD 6.7) in women. Mean anteversion was 8.3° (SD 8.7) in men and 14.4° (SD 11.6) in women. . Results. The difference between men and women in terms of anteversion was significant (p = 0.022). In 75% of hips, the natural orientation was outside the safe zone described by Lewinnek et al (anteversion 15° ± 10°; inclination 40° ± 10°). Conclusion. When using the natural acetabular orientation to guide component placement, it is important to be aware of the differences between men and women, and that in up to 75% of hips natural orientation may be out of what many consider to be a safe zone. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2015;4:6–10

Objectives

Mechanical wear and corrosion at the head-stem junction of total hip arthroplasties (THAs) (trunnionosis) have been implicated in their early revision, most commonly in metal-on-metal (MOM) hips. We can isolate the role of the head-stem junction as the predominant source of metal release by investigating non-MOM hips; this can help to identify clinically significant volumes of material loss and corrosion from these surfaces.

In order to evaluate the relationship between acetabular and proximal femoral alignment in the initiation and evolution of osteoarthritis of the dysplastic hip, the acetabular and femoral angles were calculated geometrically from radiographs of 62 patients with pre-arthrosis and early osteoarthritis. The sum of the lateral opening angle of the acetabulum and the neck-shaft angle was defined as the lateral instability index (LII), and the sum of the anterior opening angle of the acetabulum and the anteversion angle of the femoral neck as the anterior instability index (AII). These two indices were compared in dysplastic and unaffected hips. A total of 22 unilateral hips with pre-arthrosis were followed for at least 15 years to determine whether the two indices were associated with the progression of osteoarthritis.

The LII of the affected hips (197.4 (sd 6.0)) was significantly greater than that of the unaffected hips (1830 (sd 6.9)). A follow-up study of 22 hips with pre-arthrosis showed that only the LII was associated with progression of the disease, and an LII of 196 was the threshold value for this progression.