Radiographic and clinical analysis of pelvic triple osteotomy for adult hip dysplasia

BACKGROUND: Adult Hip Dysplasia (AHD) has been strongly linked with the development of hip osteoarthritis. The complexity and therefore resultant steep learning curve of the Bernese osteotomy for AHD has been well described. The purpose of this study was to analyse the efficacy of a technically less demanding interlocking pelvic triple osteotomy. METHODS: Pre and postoperative pelvic radiographs of 8 hips in 7 patients who underwent pelvic osteotomy between January 2010 and December 2011 were corrected to a standardised orientation using a validated software package, Hip(2)Norm(TM), and this tool was then used to measure hip parameters used for assessing dysplasia. The Lateral Centre Edge Angle (LCEA), the Acetabular Index of the Weight-Bearing Zone (AIWB), and the percentage Acetabular Coverage of the Femoral Head (ACFH) were all calculated and compared. Oxford hip scores, WOMAC hip scores, and UCLA activity scores were clinical outcome measures. RESULTS: Average LCEA correction was 23.8 deg, from a mean of 8.8 deg preoperatively to 32.6 deg postoperatively. AIWB was corrected an average of 21.3 deg (mean 22.5 to 1.2 deg postoperatively) and ACFH was increased on average 23.8% (mean 59.0 to 82.8% postoperatively). At a minimum follow-up of 3 months Oxford hip scores improved from an average of 19.6 preoperatively to 39.4, and the mean UCLA activity index was increased from 3.3 to 7.1 postoperatively. There were two technical complications in the studied procedures, which have resulted in no long-term sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the safe and effective use of an interlocking pelvic triple osteotomy to provide correction of radiological parameters and symptomatic improvement of AHD.