Previous corrective osteotomies of femur and pelvis are a risk factor for complications following total hip arthroplasty in hip dysplasia.

Background: Modified anatomy of dysplastic hips, bone defects and previous operations make THA (total hip arthroplasty) in patients with hip dysplasia a technically challenging procedure.

Methods: One hundred and ten patients (mean 49.2 years of age, range 19-76, female:103, male:7) underwent 122 subsequent hip arthroplasties from 2012 to 2019. These patients were reviewed at least two years after THA. Plain radiography was used to determine Crowe classification of the affected hips. Fifty-three patients had an operation in childhood before THA was done (mean 47.0 years of age, standard deviation 8.3, range 19-62) and formed the "operated group". Among these patients, there were Chiari pelvic osteotomies, periacetabular osteotomies, femoral osteotomies, greater trochanter distalizations and soft tissue operations. Fifty-seven were not operated in childhood (mean 52.3 years of age, standard deviation 10.9, range 19-76) and formed the "non operated group". The functional status of the patients was assessed with the Oxford Hip Score (OHS).

Results: 122 total hip arthroplasties were performed using uncemented femoral and acetabular components. There were 13 major complications identified. Ten were in the "operated group", of which 5 needed revision surgery. Only 3 were in the "non operated group", with no need for revision. Aseptic loosenings of the femoral component were seen in the patients that had femoral osteotomy done in childhood. Acetabular component migration and intrapelvic migration occurred due to the initial malposition and lack of osteointegration, thus requiring early revision after just 6 months. Other major complications were peroneal palsy, deep periprosthetic infection, severe trochanteritis and intraoperative femoral fracture. OHS was significantly higher in the "non operated group" 42.3 (10-48), opposed to 39.1 (10-48) in the "operated group" (p 0.017).

Conclusion: Corrective osteotomies in childhood are a risk factor for complications and lower medium-term survivorship of the THA in hip dysplasia patients.