Rotational acetabular osteotomy for advanced osteoarthritis of the hip joint with acetabular dysplasia

Between August 1986 and July 1997, we performed rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) according to the methods of Ninomiya and Tagawa in 161 patients (179 hips). Among them, 63 patients (68 hips) had advanced osteoarthritis. We assessed the outcome at a mean of 12 years after rotational acetabular osteotomy was performed for the treatment of advanced osteoarthritis in a series of patients with acetabular dysplasia. Eleven patients did not return for final follow-up and were excluded from the study, leaving 52 patients (57 hips) for analysis. The mean Merle d'Aubigné clinical score improved from 12.6 points (range 9-16) preoperatively to 14.3 points (range 7-18) postoperatively (p < 0.002), mainly because of increased scores for pain. At final follow-up, 50 of the 57 hips were still functioning. The results of rotational acetabular osteotomy for correction of advanced osteoarthritis in adults with acetabular dysplasia were satisfactory after a mean of 12.2 years.