Gait Kinematic Deviations in Patients With Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Treated With Total Hip Arthroplasty

Comprehensive gait analysis of patients with Crowe type II and III developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) after successful total hip arthroplasty (THA) is lacking in the literature. This study evaluated gait function in joint kinematics after unilateral and bilateral THA in patients with DDH. In addition, the effect of high cup position on gait function was investigated. A total of 16 unilateral and 15 bilateral cementless THA patients due to DDH and 10 healthy participants comprised the study population. Levels of superior displacement of the acetabular cup and leg-length discrepancy after THA were measured. Three-dimensional gait analysis for patients who underwent THA was performed at least 1 year postoperatively. Range of motion (ROM), particularly sagittal (flexion/extension) and frontal (adduction/abduction) hip joint ROM, was significantly lower in both the unilateral and bilateral groups than in healthy participants. Sagittal (flexion/extension) hip ROM in patients with DDH was greater in the unilateral group than in the bilateral group. A significant influence of high acetabular cup position on hip joint kinematics was not observed in the unilateral subgroups (mean level of cup superior displacement was 11.8 mm). In contrast, a significant influence of high acetabular cup position on hip joint kinematics was observed in the bilateral subgroups (mean level of cup superior displacement was 21.3 mm). The functional symmetry and cup superior displacement within 12 mm in patients with DDH after unilateral THA contributed to the restoration of normal hip biomechanics. [Orthopedics. 2017; 40(3):e425-e431.].