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The accuracy and inter-observer reliability of acetate templating in total hip arthroplasty
R Kearney1, A H Shaikh, J M O'Byrne
1Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Professorial Unit, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, Ireland.
Aim:
The accuracy and inter-observer reliability (IOR) of acetate templating on hard copy X-rays in 33 primary total hip arthroplasties as measured by consultant and trainee surgeons was analyzed to find out how accurate are junior surgeons undertaking specialty training.
Methods:
The study was questionnaire-based using a prospective cohort over a 4 weeks period. The Surgeon measurements of acetabular cup, femoral stem and femoral offset sizes were noted following acetate measurements and then compared with the final implant chosen during surgery.
Results:
Prediction of sizing to within one size of the final match size was 75% accurate for cup and 91% accurate for femoral stem. Prediction of exact femoral offset sizes was 91% accurate. Templating showed strong IOR between senior consultant surgeon and junior trainee registrar within one size for cup (83%) and stem (100%) and for exact hip offset prediction (92%).
Conclusion:
We conclude that acetate templating on hard copy X-rays is beneficial to surgeons to gauge acetabular cup and femoral stem size to within one size range. This further helps in predicting nearly exact femoral offset size.