Vascularised iliac graft as a method of acetabular augmentation in subluxed hip in adolescents

This article presents the clinical experience of patients with a dysplasic subluxated hip treated with the same procedure involving a vascularised graft of iliac crest by sartorius muscle. This study was performed in three different centres, in two different countries, and in 31 patients with 37 hips (9 bilateral). All patients were clinically evaluated according to the Merle d Aubigne scale and radiological measuring of acetabular coverage, Sharp angle, and CE angle. Walking ability preoperatively was 4.87 and postoperatively 5.12, which was not statistically significant. Preoperative inclination acetabular angle was 59.0 degrees +/- 6.23 and postoperatively 37.5 degrees +/- 6.08 (P < 0.00001). Preoperative CE angle was -2.03 degrees +/- 13.5 and postoperatively was 41.0 degrees +/- 12.3 ( P < 0.00001). Index head acetabulum had a preoperative coverage of 48.3% +/- 13.0 and postoperatively 100.8% +/- 19.5. The head sphericity did not show any statistically significant difference in relation to the results. The results obtained were satisfactory from every point of view, making this the procedure of choice in the armamentarium to delay the need for a total joint as treatment of early osteoarthritis in young adults.