Abstract
Background: Neurological injuries are a rare but devastating complication after total hip arthroplasty (THA). The purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine the frequency of nerve palsy after THA without subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy in patients with a completely dislocated hip joint without pseudo-articulation between the femoral head and iliac bone.Methods:Between October 1999 and September 2001, nine primary THAs were performed for patients with a completely dislocated hip joint. The limb lengths, neurological abnormalities, and the extent of their neurological recovery were evaluated. Three THAs were combined with subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy, and six THAs were combined without subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy.Results:The mean length of the operation was 4.8 cm (range, 3.0-6.5 cm). Sciatic nerve palsy developed in four of the nine patients after THA. None of the cases with sciatic nerve palsy were combined with subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy. Three of four patients did not completely recover from sciatic nerve palsy.Conclusions:THA for patients with a completely dislocated hip was associated with a high risk of nerve palsy due to excessive limb lengthening; the potential for recovery from nerve palsy was observed to be poor. Subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy should be used in combination with THA in patients with a completely dislocated hip.
Highlights
Nerve palsy is an uncommon but acknowledged complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA) [1]
Several lines of evidence have confirmed that limb lengthening is an important factor in the development of nerve palsy [5, 7 - 10], especially in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) [3 - 7]
Subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy is regarded as an essential surgical technique that should be performed with THA in patients with a highly dislocated hip joint [11]
Summary
Nerve palsy is an uncommon but acknowledged complication of total hip arthroplasty (THA) [1]. The frequency with which nerve palsy develops after THA without subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy for patients with a completely dislocated hip joint without pseudo-articulation between the femoral head and iliac bone is unknown. The aim of the present was to determine the frequency of nerve palsy after THA without subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy in patients with a completely dislocated hip joint without pseudoarticulation between the femoral head and iliac bone. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine the frequency of nerve palsy after THA without subtrochanteric femoral shortening osteotomy in patients with a completely dislocated hip joint without pseudo-articulation between the femoral head and iliac bone
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
