The effects of total hip arthroplasty in treating hip bony fusion in young and middle-aged patients with ankylosing spondylitis

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the curative effects of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in treating hip bony fusion for young and middle-aged patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: The clinical data of 26 young and middle-aged patients with AS (31 coxae), who were treated with THA and followed-up for more than 3 years in the period between February 1998 and May 2013, were retrospectively analyzed. Among these patients, 22 patients were male (25 coxae) and 4 patients were female (6 coxae). Patients’ age ranged within 19–50 years old, with an average of 31.5 years old. The intervals from arthroplasty to the occurrence of hip joint lesions caused by AS ranged within 2–26 years, with an average of 11.2 years. The average Harris score before the surgery was 19.0 ± 11.5 points. RESULTS: Femoral proximal cleavage fracture occurred in one coxa during the surgery and was fixed by the steel wire cerclage. Sciatic nerve traction injury occurred in one coxa after the surgery, which recovered after 6 months. Posterior hip dislocation occurred in one coxa and was immediately treated with manual reduction. All patients were followed-up, and follow-up duration ranged within 36–123 months, with an average of 46.5 months. In the last follow-up, the average Harris score was 87.1 ± 13.1 points, total passive range of motion was 215.0 ± 22.0°, and passive range of flexion was 90.8 ± 9.3°. All these indexes significantly increased compared with pretreatment (P < 0.01). A periacetabular radiolucent line occurred in one coxa with a width of < 2 mm, and no femoral radiolucent line was found during follow-ups in any patient. Heterotopic ossification occurred in four coxae. CONCLUSION: THA treatment for hip bony fusion caused by AS can achieve satisfactory hip function recovery and excellent prosthesis survival rate.