[Total hip arthroplasty with soft tissue release for patients with severe development dysplasia of the hip]

To explore the clinical effect of total hip replacement with soft tissue release and true acetabulum reconstruction on treating osteoarthritis secondary to severe development dysplasia of the hip.
 Methods: From January 2005 to January 2011, 23 hips in 21 patients with osteoarthritis secondary to Crowe III development dysplasia of the hip underwent total hip arthroplasty with soft tissue release and true acetabulum reconstruction. There were 18 females and 3 males. The age was (45.1±13.2) years. Two patients underwent bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) and 19 cases underwent unilateral hip. The Harris hip score was 39.7±5.6.
 Results: The duration of follow up was (110±46) months. The symptoms of patients were relieved, and all the patients' femur head recovered to the true acetabulum after soft tissue released. Sciatic nerve paralysis occurred in one patient, who recovered after 3 months. All patients showed restoration of limb length, while the limb-length discrepancy was (11.0±3.5) mm. The post-operation Harris hip score was 87.2±5.9.
 Conclusion: Total hip arthroplasty with soft tissue release and true acetabulum reconstruction was an effective method in treating osteoarthritis secondary to Crowe III development dysplasia of the hip and was a challenging work to the orthopedic surgeon. It was critical the surgeon to plan the operative intervention carefully.