We aim to evaluate the restoration of the hip and limb length in patients with osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) using total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Between February 1996 and September 2001, 65 hips in 55 patients (2 males, 53 females; mean age 48.6 years; range 37 to 60 years) with advanced osteoarthritis secondary to DDH underwent uncemented THA. According to the Hartofilakidis classification, 20, 27, and 18 hips were evaluated types I (dysplasia), II (subluxation), and III (dislocation), respectively. All of the acetabular cups were reconstructed in the original anatomic location. Structural autografts were used in seven hips to supplement the acetabular coverage. We evaluated all patients clinically and radiographically.
All of the patients were followed up for 7-12 years. Preoperatively, the Harris score averaged 52.5, 48.41, and 45.28 in types I to III, respectively. At the final follow-up, the Harris score averaged 89.65, 87.44, and 83.28, respectively. The difference between the pre- and postoperative scores was significant (p=0.0001). Preoperatively, 26 patients (47.27%) had slight limps (length difference <1 cm), eight (14.55%) had moderate limps (length difference 1-3 cm), and 21 (38.18%) had severe limps (length difference >3 cm). At their final follow-up, four (7.27%) had severe limps. The limps of all of the patients improved significantly (McNemar's test p=0.0001). We observed aseptic loosening and subsidence in six hips. In seven hips, we used a femoral head autograft for the superior acetabular defect. We performed femoral shortening osteotomies only for two (3.07%) type III hips.
In addition to the standard procedure, structural bone autografting, medialization of the cup, and placing the acetabular component in the true acetabulum are important factors for successful intermediate-term results.