Periacetabular osteotomy to treat residual dysplasia in adolescents and young adults: indications, complications, results

PURPOSE: Discuss current indications, techniques, complications and results of periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) to treat the adolescent and young adult with symptomatic acetabular dysplasia or the rare minimally symptomatic patient with dysplasia with a guarded prognosis without PAO surgery. METHODS: Review of clinical experience with PAO at our and other high-volume centres. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 18 years after PAO, more than 75% of hips are preserved. At 30-year follow-up, longest term reported series notes survival of one-third of hips. CONCLUSION: Both middle- and long-term results suggest efficacy of PAO in improving function and prognosis in most symptomatic adolescent and young adult patients with spherically congruous pre-arthritic dysplastic hips.