Bilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty in a Patient With Achondroplasia: Challenges and Surgical Strategies

This case report provides a history of a female patient with achondroplasia who underwent bilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA) using short femoral stem. On preoperative radiography, a severe bilateral hip osteoarthritis was noted, with deformity of the femoral metaphyses. After THA, the gait pattern improved significantly, the range of motion of both hips increased, and limb length discrepancy was corrected. There was also an improvement in Harris Hip Score value from 65 to 87. In patients with achondroplasia who develop end-stage hip osteoarthritis, there is a unique challenge for arthroplasty surgeons, including implant design, sizing, positioning, and soft-tissue balancing. We believe that the use of short femoral stems might represent an acceptable surgical strategy in the setting of complex changes in femoral anatomy.