Modified trochanteric slide for complex hip arthroplasty: clinical outcomes and complication rates

The sliding trochanteric osteotomy preserves vastus lateralis continuity with the osteotomized greater trochanter (GT) and the abductors. The modified trochanteric sliding osteotomy (MTSO) also preserves the posterior capsule and external rotators to reduce the risk of dislocations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our clinical and radiographic results of the MTSO exposure. Eighty-three MTSOs were reviewed. Follow-up range was 12 to 126 months. Seventy osteotomies (84.4%) healed with bony union, 9 (10.8%) had fibrous union, and 4 (4.8%) had nonunion. There was no correlation between the width of the osteotomy, intraoperative fragmentation of the GT, or the type of femoral component and the rate of union. Six (7.2%) patients developed a new abductor lurch. Patients with union of the GT had 2.8% of a lurch, and patients with either fibrous union or nonunion had a 30.7% of a lurch (P < .05). There were 4 (4.8%) postoperative dislocations. The benefits of MTSO have been well described, and this study provides evidence of an acceptably low complication rate.