Comparison of modern periacetabular osteotomy for hip dysplasia with total hip arthroplasty for hip osteoarthritis—10-year outcomes are comparable in young adult patients

Young adult patients with symptomatic acetabular dysplasia and marginal secondary osteoarthritis can be faced with the decision to either undergo periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) to relieve symptoms and slow osteoarthritis progression or wait until progression to more advanced disease and undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA). The decision can be difficult, and contemporary literature to guide these decisions is sparse. Therefore, we retrospectively assessed complication rate, survivorship and patient-reported clinical outcomes [modified Harris Hip score (mHHS), UCLA Activity score] in two, consecutive cohorts of patients aged 18–40 years that underwent either PAO for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia (mean age 28.9 years) or THA for advanced secondary osteoarthritis (32.5 years). PAO patients were followed for a mean of 10.5 years (8–19) and THA patients for 11.9 (8–17) years. Between PAO and THA groups, there were no differences in overall complication rate (4.7% versus 4.7%), non-revision reoperation rate (5.9% versus 2.3%, P = 0.37) or end-revision rate [7 (8.2%) PAOs converted to THA at mean 10.8 years versus 3 (7.0%) THAs revised at 6.2 years, P = 0.80]. Latest scores remained significantly improved from baseline in both the PAO (mHHS 86.1 versus 63.3, P < 0.001; UCLA 7.5 versus 6.9, P < 0.05) and THA (mHHS 82.6 versus 48.4, P < 0.001; UCLA 7.2 versus 4.6, P < 0.001) cohorts. Final scores were similar between groups (mHHS 86.1 versus 82.6, P = 0.46; UCLA 7.5 versus 7.2, P = 0.37). Clinical success [mHHS minimal clinically important difference (8) OR PASS (>70) at latest follow-up without end-revision] was achieved in 81.2% of PAO hips and 83.7% of THA hips (P = 0.72).