Abstract
BACKGROUND: An extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) is commonly used to improve exposure and facilitate femoral component removal in revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). An additional medial corticotomy may be used in conjunction with an ETO to correct a femoral deformity, particularly varus remodeling in association with a failed femoral component. This study evaluated the outcomes of combining an ETO with a medial corticotomy in revision THA, with emphasis on implant fixation, femoral alignment, bone union, and clinical outcomes. METHODS: Of the 612 ETOs performed between 2003 and 2013, 13 patients (9 men and 4 women) underwent ETO combined with a medial corticotomy to correct varus remodeling, representing 2% of all ETOs during that period. The average follow-up was 8 ± 3.5 years. The mean age at surgery was 67 ± 13.5 years. The mean body mass index was 32 ± 7.7 kg/m(2). Radiographs were reviewed to measure preoperative and postoperative femoral deformity, time to consolidation, and femoral fixation. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Harris Hip Score (HHS). RESULTS: All patients had preoperative varus femoral deformity (mean 16.3° ± 5.7°). The mean postoperative alignment was 4.3 ± 1.6° varus achieving an average correction of 12° (95% CI -15.7 to -8.3, p < 0.0001). Both the ETO and the medial corticotomy consolidated in 10 of 11 patients (91%) with available 1-year radiographs at a mean of 11 ± 7.7 months. The mean HHS improved significantly from 42 preoperatively to 82 at 5-year follow-up (p = 0.0002). Complications related to the ETO and corticotomy occurred in 4 patients (30%), including 1 intraoperative fracture, 1 postoperative greater trochanteric fracture, 1 nonunion of the medial corticotomy, and 1 postoperative wound-hematoma. All femoral components remained well fixed at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: The combination of ETO and medial corticotomy in revision THA effectively corrected femoral alignment in patients with a preoperative varus deformity and was associated with significant functional improvement at the final follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.