Stepped osteotomy of femoral head autograft for acetabular reconstruction in total hip arthroplasty for dysplasia of the hip: 3 to 12 years’ results

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe a stepped osteotomy technique applied to the femoral head autograft to keep the graft volume at a sufficient level, provide primary stability, and direct cancellous-cancellous bone contact. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 24 hips of 20 patients (5 males, 15 females; mean age 53 years; range, 43 to 68 years) with dysplasia of the hip (DDH) who underwent total hip arthroplasty with femoral head stepped osteotomy technique were evaluated between April 2003 and June 2010. Patients’ age, gender, operation side, and postoperative complications were recorded. Aseptic loosening of the acetabular cup and graft integration/resorption were evaluated radiographically. Radiological evaluations were performed according to the methods of DeLee and Charnley, and Mulroy and Harris. Functional status of the patients was determined according to the criteria of Merle d’Aubigné and Postel, and Harris hip score (HHS). RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 5.5 years (range, 3 to 12 years). None of the patients had any complications in the early postoperative period. In all patients, the percentage of acetabular component coverage by the graft was measured as 27% (range, 19 to 38%) on average. At the last follow-up, all patients were satisfied with the result and there was no sign of clinically loosening, osteointegration was complete, and there was no radiographic evidence of graft resorption or collapse of any hip. The overall Merle d’Aubigné scores and HHSs of the patients significantly improved at the final follow-up. CONCLUSION: This stepped osteotomy technique increases the probability of osteointegration, reduces the need for early revision, and provides reliable stability with satisfactory clinical and radiological midterm results.