Acetabulum

Background The arterial vascularity of the hip has been investigated in normal infants using duplex Doppler sonography. This study addressed the differences in hip vascularity in infants with respect to gender and acetabular morphology. Objective To determine whether there is a relationship between the resistive index of the vessels of the femoral chondroepiphysis and the alpha angle in normal infant hips and in those with developmental dysplasia of the hip. Materials and methods We studied 76 hips (38 patients) with gray-scale and power Doppler US. The patients were referred because of a possible abnormal clinical hip examination or had risk factors for developmental dysplasia of the hip. The infants ranged in age from 1 day to 6 weeks. There were 13 boys and 25 girls. Gray-scale images were initially performed in the coronal and transverse planes to evaluate acetabular morphology, alpha angle and position of the femoral chondroepiphysis relative to the acetabulum. The hips were then examined with power Doppler US, in both sagittal and transverse planes, to identify arterial vessels within the femoral epiphysis. Resistive indices were then recorded from the spectral analysis in each vessel identified. Each examination was performed by one of five pediatric radiologists. Mixed model regression was used to assess the relationship between resistive index and alpha angle, age and gender. Results Of the 76 hips, 34 had an alpha angle of 60° or greater and were classified as normal, 26 had an alpha angle between 50° and 59° and were classified as immature, and 13 had an alpha angle of less than 50° and were either subluxed or dislocated at the time of examination. At least two vessels were documented in each femoral epiphysis except in three hips, in which no vessels could be documented because of technical factors. There was a statistically significant linear relationship between the alpha angle and resistive index, such that the resistive index tended to rise with increasing alpha angle (P=0.0022). In addition, female infants had a significantly higher average resistive index than the average resistive index in male infants with the same alpha angle (P=0.0005). Conclusion There is a direct linear relationship between alpha angle and resistive index in the infant hip. Female infants have a higher average resistive index than male infants. We believe that these results might serve as a model for predicting an infant hip at risk of ischemia. In addition, the fact that lower resistive indices of the femoral epiphysis are associated with acetabular dysplasia might help explain the documented low incidence of avascular necrosis in untreated hip dysplasia.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome of trabecular metal (TM) acetabular components used in revision hip arthroplasty with major bone deficiency. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 46 patients undergoing revision hip arthroplasty with severe acetabular bone loss. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Harris Hip Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities, and Short-Form 12. Mean follow-up was 50 months. All patients had Paprosky type IIc or III acetabular bone deficiency. Major complications included 1 infection, 2 dislocations, and 1 arterial bleeding. Average Harris Hip Score was 78.2. Short-Form 12 scores were within population-based age-matched averages. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities scores were mainly in the 2 lowest disability categories. Porous tantalum shows promising results in revision arthroplasty with severe acetabular bone loss.

Pelvic osteotomies are an integral part of treatment in developmental dysplasia of the hip after 18 months. This article focuses on the innominate osteotomy which was introduced by Richard Salter in 1961. Salter innominate osteotomy is a complete pelvic osteotomy that hinges on the symphysis pubis and results in anterolateral displacement of the acetabulum. The derotated acetabulum is held in place with a bone graft and fixed with Kirschner wires. Salter osteotomy has been performed over four decades and excellent short- and long-term results have been reported from different centers all over the world. Its success is closely related to appropriate patient selection and meticulous surgical technique with strict adherence to prerequisites.

Although athletic injuries about the hip and groin occur less commonly than injuries in the extremities, they can result in extensive rehabilitation time. Thus, an accurate diagnosis and well-organized treatment plan are critical. Because loads of up to eight times body weight have been demonstrated in the hip joint during jogging, presumably even greater loads can occur during vigorous athletic competition. The available imaging modalities are effective diagnostic tools when selected on the basis of a thorough history and physical examination. Considerable controversy exists as to the cause and optimal treatment of groin pain in athletes, or the so-called "sports hernia." There has also been significant recent attention focused on intraarticular lesions that may be amenable to hip arthroscopy. This article briefly reviews several common hip and groin conditions affecting athletic patients and highlights some newer topics.

Total joint arthroplasty refers to the restoration of joint function and stability through bony and ligamentous reconstruction. It is considered among the most reliable and reproducible surgical procedures in modern medicine and expected to increase drastically in demand over the next 20 years. This article provides an overview of the rationale behind implant design and how fixation in arthroplasty, specifically total hip arthroplasty, is achieved. The biomechanics of the hip joint and its associated radiologic landmarks are reviewed. This is then followed by a description of the design features of acetabular and femoral components, with concise explanations of why cemented and cementless implants exist, how different implant geometries and porous coatings address specific clinical needs, and how we hope the current innovations in cementless fixation will improve outcomes in revision surgery.

The number of periprosthetic fractures following hip replacement is increasing due to longer life expectancy and the rising number of joint replacements. The main causes of periprosthetic fractures include trauma, implant specific factors or loosening of the endoprosthesis. When planning therapy, surgeons should consider specific and general implant- and patient-related risk factors to ensure the best possible treatment. Established classification systems can facilitate preoperative planning. At present, the Vancouver classification system probably comes closest to the ideal, as it considers fracture configuration, stability of the implant and quality of the bone stock. Depending on these factors, therapeutic options include conservative treatment, fracture stabilisation or replacement of the endoprosthesis. The problems associated with periprosthetic fractures of varying etiology and the available treatment options are discussed against the background of the established classificat...

A cup inclination angle greater than 45 degrees is associated with increased wear rates of metal on polyethylene (MOP) hip replacements. The same maybe true for metal on metal (MOM) hips yet this has not been clearly shown. We measured the acetabular inclination angle from plain radiographs, and whole blood metal ion levels using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry of 26 patients (mean Harris Hip Score 94 and mean time post op of 22 months) with Birmingham Hip Resurfacings. We identified a threshold level of 50 degrees cup inclination. Below this threshold, the mean whole blood cobalt and chromium were 1.6 ppb and 1.88 ppb respectively; above this threshold, the mean blood cobalt and chromium were 4.45 ppb and 4.3 ppb respectively. These differences were significant cobalt (p<0.01) and chromium (p=0.01). All patients above the threshold had metal levels greater than any of the patients below the threshold. For 14 patients, who returned one year later for a repeat blood m...