Association of Femoral Rotation With Whole-Body Alignment in Patients Who Underwent Total Hip Arthroplasty

BACKGROUND: Although rotational changes in lower limb alignment after total hip arthroplasty (THA) affect functional stem anteversion, less is known about the effects of femoral rotational alignment in the standing position. This study investigated postoperative changes in femoral rotation and evaluated the association with whole-body alignment in patients who underwent THA. METHODS: Sixty-five patients with unilateral hip osteoarthritis who underwent THA were enrolled. Preoperative and postoperative femoral rotation in the standing and supine positions were measured using EOS 2D/3D X-ray imaging system and computed tomography. Negative and positive changes in femoral rotation angle were indicative of internal and external rotation, respectively. The associations between femoral rotation and preoperative clinical and radiological factors were investigated. RESULTS: Femoral rotation showed significant internal changes in both the standing (−4.7° ± 11.0°) and supine (−3.5°± 10.9°) positions after THA. The preoperative femoral rotation angle, knee flexion angle, sagittal vertical axis (SVA), lumbar lordosis, body mass index, age, and internal and external rotation angles of the hip range of motion on the contralateral side were significantly correlated with femoral rotation in the standing position after THA. Multiple regression analysis showed that preoperative femoral rotation (β = 0.416, P < .001) and SVA (β = 0.216, P = .040) were significant predictors of postoperative femoral rotation in the standing position. CONCLUSIONS: Femoral rotation had significant association with the patient-inherent posture represented by the SVA in the standing position. Because extensive external change of femoral rotation may increase the risk of hip impingement and dislocation, careful attention is required in patients with external femoral rotation and forward bent posture in the preoperative standing position.