Clinical efficacy of greater trochanter osteotomy with tension wire fixation in total hip arthroplasty for Crowe type IV developmental dysplasia of the hip.

Objective: The choice of osteotomy in joint replacement surgery for Crowe type IV developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a challenging and controversial procedure. In this study, we compared the clinical efficacy of a combination of greater trochanter osteotomy and tension wire fixation with that of subtrochanteric osteotomy.

Methods: We performed 15 primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures between January 2016 and July 2020 on 13 patients with a combination of greater trochanter osteotomy and tension wire fixation (the GTT group) and 12 THA procedures in 11 patients using subtrochanteric osteotomy (the STO group). The mean follow-up was 2.8 years (range 2.2-4.5 years) in the GTT group and 2.6 years (range 2.5-4.3 years) in the STO group. Clinical scores and radiographic results were evaluated during the final follow-up for the 15 hips in the GTT group and 12 hips in the STO group.

Results: Postoperative Harris hip scores, implant position, and the surgery time did not differ between the treatment groups. There were no differences in preoperative leg length discrepancy LLD (P = 0.46) and postoperative LLD (P = 0.56) between the two groups. Bone union occurred within 6 months after surgery in 12 hips in the GTT group (92.3%) and in 9 hips (81.8%) in the STO group. One case in the GTT group and two cases in the STO group had nonunion, and additionally, there was one case of postoperative nerve injury in the STO group, while no symptoms of nerve damage were observed in the GTT group.

Conclusion: The GTT method demonstrated many advantages and reliable clinical results for Crowe type IV DDH patients undergoing THA. This is a surgical method that warrants further development and promotion clinically.