Length and offset restoration in partial hip arthroplasty (PHA) performed by resident surgeons: Comparison between...

Restoring of leg length and femoral offset in partial hip arthroplasty (PHA) performed by residents (level one of experience surgery) in the neck femoral fractures has a significant role in the clinical outcome. The aim of this study is to show the statistically significant differences in restoring hip geometric parameters using preoperative planning vs intraoperative X-ray. Authors compared the use of pre-operative planning with intra-operative radiography to restore the limb length and femoral offset, focused on the measurement of femoral offset and leg length discrepancy (LLD). Based on the calculation of the sample size, the number of observations required for each test group was 37 patients. For all patients were performed pre- and post-operative measurements, using mediCAD HECTET GmbH Version 5.0 software, calibrated after positioning of a radiographic landmark of 25,4 mm. The median post-operative LLD was substantially overlapping between the two group patients (1 mm vs. 1,5 mm). Statistical analyses did not find a statistically significant difference between the using of preoperative planning and intra-operative x-ray according to postoperative LLD (p = 0,06). Similarly, median change in the offset did not differ between the two groups (-2 mm vs. -1,5 mm; p = 0.69). In our experience, the combined use of pre- and intraoperative techniques appear to be viable and effective in order to restore femoral offset and minimize LLD.