Accuracy of Acetabular Cup Placement During Total Hip Arthroplasty in Supine Position Using a Pelvic Rotation Correction Device

BACKGROUND: Accurate cup placement during total hip arthroplasty (THA) is difficult because the intraoperative pelvic position changes even in supine patient position. We developed a device known as HipPointer; it corrects pelvic rotation and creates a functional pelvic plane as a reference. The aim of this study was to determine the device placement accuracy and investigate causes of error. MATERIAL AND METHODS: HipPointer was used for cup placement in 353 hips of 308 patients who underwent direct-anterior-approach THA in supine position. The mean age at surgery and body mass index were 63.9 (17-90) years and 24.9 (16.6-42.0) kg/m(2), respectively. The mean observation period was 40.5 (12-73) months. To investigate the accuracy of HipPointer, preoperative planning and postoperative cup placement angles relative to the functional pelvic plane were evaluated using a three-dimensional analysis software, and absolute errors were determined. RESULTS: The means ± standard deviations of radiographic inclination (RI) and radiographic anteversion (RA) were 40.2 ± 3.0° and 15.8 ± 3.6°, respectively. The absolute errors of RI and RA were 2.2 ± 2.0° and 2.7 ± 2.3°, respectively. The ratio of the cup placement angle for which both RI and RA are ≤10° in the target zone was 99% (350/353 hips), and the ratio of the absolute errors for which both RI and RA are ≤5° was 80.4% (284/353 hips). CONCLUSIONS: HipPointer is simple in structure, easy to use, and useful for direct-anterior-approach THA in supine position. It provides good cup placement accuracy.