Validation of a preoperative formula to estimate postoperative pelvic sagittal alignment and mobility before performing total hip arthroplasty for patients with hip osteoarthritis

Background: Although it is important to consider pelvic alignment and mobility in the standing and sitting positions before THA, it is not known how to preoperatively predict individual postoperative pelvic alignment and mobility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the pelvic alignment and mobility before and after THA, and to develop a predictive formula using preoperative factors to calculate postoperative sagittal alignment and mobility.

Methods: One hundred seventy patients were assessed. The 170 patients were randomly divided into a prediction model analysis group (n = 85) and an external validation group (n = 85). In the prediction model analysis group, preoperative spinopelvic parameters were used to develop the predictive formulas to predict the postoperative sacral slope (SS) in standing and sitting positions and ΔSS. These were applied to the external validation group and assessed.

Results: R² in multiple linear regression models for postoperative SS in standing, SS in sitting and ΔSS were 0.810, 0.672, and 0.423, respectively. The values of predicted and postoperative parameters were very close with no significant difference: SS in standing (33.87 vs. 34.23, P = 0.834), SS in sitting (18.86 vs. 19.51, P = 0.228), and ΔSS (15.38 vs. 14.72, P = 0.619).

Conclusion: The present study showed that the pelvic alignment and mobility after THA can be predicted using preoperative factors. Although a model with higher accuracy is needed, it is important to use a predictive formula to estimate the postoperative condition before performing THA.