Residual hip dysplasia: is there a place for hip shelf operation?

After modern acetabular osteotomies were introduced, hip shelf operations have become much less commonly used. The aims of this study were to assess the short-term and long-term outcome of a modified Spitzy shelf procedure and to compare the results with those of periacetabular osteotomy (PAO).

In all, 44 patients (55 hips) with developmental dysplasia of the hip and residual dysplasia had a modified Spitzy shelf operation. Mean age at surgery was 13.2 years (8 to 22). Indication for surgery was a centre-edge angle < 20° with or without hip pain. Outcome was evaluated using duration of painless period and survival analysis with conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) as endpoints.

Preoperative hip pain was present in 46% of the hips and was more common in patients ≥ 12 years at surgery (p < 0.001). One year postoperatively, 93% of the hips were painless. Analysis of pain in hips with more than ten years follow-up showed a mean postoperative painless period of 20.0 years (0 to 49). In all, 44 hips (80%) had undergone THA at a mean patient age of 50.5 years (37 to 63). Mean survival of the shelf procedure (time from operation to THA) was 39.3 years (21 to 55).

The Spitzy operation had good short and long-term effects on hip pain and a 30-year survival (no THA) of 72% of the hips. These results compare favourably with those of PAO and indicate that there is still a place for the shelf procedure in older children and young adults.