Outcome of peri-acetabular osteotomy for hip dysplasia in teenagers

Peri-acetabular osteotomy, especially curved peri-acetabular osteotomy, is an effective surgical procedure for re-orientating the acetabulum. However, there have been few reports on this procedure in teenagers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the treatment outcomes of curved peri-acetabular osteotomy in teenagers.

We retrospectively reviewed 33 hips in 27 teenage patients with acetabular dysplasia who underwent curved peri-acetabular osteotomy between 1995 and 2012. The mean age was 17.0 years (range, 14-19 years). The mean follow-up duration at the most recent physical examination was 33.3 months (range, 24-96 months). All hips were evaluated in terms of the Harris hip score, radiographic measurements, and complications.

The mean Harris hip score improved from 80.1 points pre-operatively to 95.4 points post-operatively (p < 0.001). There were significant differences in all of the radiographic measurements between the pre-operative and post-operative values (p < 0.001). One major complication occurred (symptomatic ischial nonunion) and required subsequent surgery. Nine hips had minor complications, including nonunion of the superior ramus osteotomy (four hips), superficial stitch abscess (two hips), and transient lateral femoral cutaneous nerve palsy (three hips).

Satisfactory results can be obtained clinically and radiographically after curved peri-acetabular osteotomy in adolescents. Osteotomy for acetabular dysplasia is effective in teenagers.