Total hip arthroplasty with rectangular stems and subtrochanteric transverse shortening osteotomy in Crowe type IV hips: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND: The complexity of femoral and acetabular anatomy and restoring anatomic center of hip rotation in Crowe type IV developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) complicates standard reconstruction. The aim of this study is to evaluate surgical techniques and clinical outcomes of subtrochanteric transverse shortening osteotomy with the use of cementless rectangular cross-section femoral implants in Crowe IV dysplastic hips. METHODS: A total of 26 hips of 25 consecutive patients with Crowe type IV DDH who underwent cementless total hip arthroplasty with subtrochanteric femoral transverse shortening osteotomy were retrospectively analyzed. The Harris Hip Score, Visual Analog Scale-pain, leg length discrepancy, and vertical and lateral migration of hip rotation center were recorded. RESULTS: Mean age, follow-up, and time of union were 41 ± 9.7 years, 7.1 ± 1.2 years, and 3.7 ± 1.1 months, respectively. Mean Harris Hip Score significantly improved from 38 ± 5.7 to 86 ± 6.1 points postoperatively (P < .01). Mean leg length discrepancy and Visual Analog Scale significantly decreased from 4.3 ± 1.3 to 1.2 ± 0.6 cm, and 6.4 ± 1.2 to 1.8 ± 0.8 points, respectively (P < .01). One female patient had a dislocation due to acetabular liner wear, which was managed by liner and head change. One patient had Sudeck’s atrophy, while another had pain on the lateral thigh, both of which were resolved with conservative management. CONCLUSIONS: Combined transverse subtrochanteric femoral osteotomy and cementless total hip arthroplasty with rectangular cross-section femoral implants is technically demanding, effective, and safe in femoral shortening for treatment of Crowe type IV DDH.