The modified capsular arthroplasty for young patients with developmental dislocation of the hip

The present study aimed to investigate the clinical results of the modified Codivilla-Hey Groves-Colonna capsular arthroplasty in the treatment of young patients with developmental dislocation of the hip. We retrospectively evaluated 90 patients (92 hips) who underwent the modified capsular arthroplasty from June 2012 to June 2021. Hips were evaluated using the modified hip Harris score (mHHS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score and the 12-item International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12). The Tönnis osteoarthritis grade and the Severin classification system were used to assess the radiographic outcomes. The average age was 15.7 years (range: 8-26 years). The mean pre-operative mHHS, the WOMAC score and the iHOT-12 score were 83.03, 14.05 and 52.79, respectively. The patients were followed for a mean of 41.1 months (range: 12.1-120.9 months). The patients had a mean mHHS of 83.61 (range: 31.2-97), a WOMAC score of 16.41 (range: 0-51) and an iHOT-12 score of 64.81 (range: 12.9-98.2) at the final follow-up. Capsular thickness had a positive predication on the final functional outcomes. The excellent/good rate of radiological reduction was 79.3%. More than 60% of patients had no/slight osteoarthritis. A total of 54 hips (58.7%) had superior radiographic outcomes. The risk factors for inferior radiographic outcomes were capsular quality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.358, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.113-0.931) and capsular thickness (OR: 0.265, 95% CI: 0.134-0.525). Joint stiffness was the most common complication (14.1%). We confirmed the efficacy of this procedure in the treatment of developmental hip dislocation. Patients with poor capsular quality are not suitable for this procedure. With suitable selection according to indications, this procedure can restore the hip rotation center with a low incidence of femoral head necrosis or severe osteoarthritis.