Background/purpose: Rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) is a joint-conserving surgery in which femoral head coverage is improved using autologous cartilage to stabilize the joint. For advanced coxarthrosis, it has been reported that radical surgery should be selected, compared to the pre- and early stages. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical outcomes of patients in whom coxarthrosis progressed after RAO and came to undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA).
Methods: We compared 24 total hip arthroplasties done in dysplastic hips after previous rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO group) with a well-matched control group of 24 primary arthroplasties (control group) done during the same period at an average follow-up of 85 months (range 15-195).
Results: RAO group required significantly longer operative times and had more intraoperative blood loss. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of Harris Hip Score and radiographic outcome. Revision was performed in four and one joints in the RAO and control groups, respectively, showing no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.165).
Conclusion: THA after previous RAO leads to midterm results similar to those of other dysplastic hips. RAO does not seem to compromise the midterm clinical and radiographic outcome.