Severity of hip dysplasia and loosening of the socket in cemented total hip replacement

Abstract

We have assessed the long-term results of 292 cemented total hip replacements which were performed for developmental dysplasia of the hip in 206 patients. The mean age of the patients at operation was 42.6 years (15.9 to 79.5) and most (202) were women. The severity of dysplasia was graded according to both the Crowe and the Hartofilakidis classifications. A 22.25-mm Charnley head was always used and the acetabular components were inserted with cement into the true acetabulum. Bone grafting of the acetabulum, using the patient’s own femoral head, was performed on 48 occasions. At a mean follow-up of 15.7 years (2.2 to 31.2) the overall survival of the acetabular component was 78%. The main cause of revision was aseptic loosening (88.3%). The rate of survival at 20 years based on the Hartofilakidis classification was 76% in the dysplastic, 55% in the low-dislocation and 12% in the high-dislocation groups and on the Crowe classification, 72.7% for group I, 70.7% for group II, 36.7% for group III and 15.6% for group IV. There was no statistical correlation between bone grafting of the acetabulum and survival of the acetabular component. This study has shown a higher rate of failure of the acetabular component with increasing severity of hip dysplasia.