Femoral shortening and cementless arthroplasty in high congenital dislocation of the hip

Abstract

We performed cementless total hip arthroplasty with femoral shortening in 28 hips of 23 patients with high-riding congenital dislocation of the hip. All the acetabular cups were placed in their original anatomic location. If needed, the acetabulum was reconstructed using the femoral head. The proximal diaphyseal step-cut shortening osteotomy was performed and stabilized by cerclage or cable grips. The follow-up results at average 48 months postoperatively were scored clinically by the Merle D'Aubigne and Harris hip scores and were good and excellent in 89.2%. One acetabular cup showed progressive radiolucent lines suggesting aseptic loosening. Two superficial wound infections, 1 femoral nerve palsy, 1 sciatic nerve palsy, 2 nonunions, and 1 acetabular fracture were observed during the follow-up.