The fate of femoral head autograft in acetabular reconstruction in dysplastic hips at midterm

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the acetabular cup and graft survival in patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) with the diagnosis of dysplastic hip osteoarthritis and received a femoral head autograft due to acetabular coverage deficiency. Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2016, 83 hip prostheses of 80 patients who underwent THA using femoral head autografts and were followed up for at least 2 years were retrospectively evaluated. Seventy-four hips of the remaining 71 patients (57 female (80%)) were included. Mean patient age at surgery was 51 ± 16 (range 18–76) years. The mean follow-up duration was 76 ± 25 (range 25–161) months. Acetabular inclination and graft thickness, contact length, percentage of coverage, and graft resorption were examined on postoperative and final follow-up radiographs. The presence of a radiolucent area around the acetabular and femoral components indicating loosening was also evaluated. Results: The mean postoperative acetabular component inclination was 44 ± 5.1° (range 30–48°) with mean graft coverage of 34 ± 4.8% (range 24–46%). In all patients, autograft union with the pelvis was seen and the lateral overflow was remodeled. Fifteen patients (20%) underwent revision surgery due to aseptic acetabular component loosening in four, nontraumatic recurrent dislocations in eight, periprosthetic infection in one, acetabular component protrusion in one, and traumatic hip dislocation in one. Conclusion: In patients with osteoarthritis secondary to developmental hip dysplasia, the use of femoral head autografts to eliminate acetabular coverage deficiency during THA achieves acceptable midterm postoperative radiological outcomes. Increased acetabular bone stock may be beneficial in possible future revision surgeries.