Total hip arthroplasty after treatment of acetabular fracture

Purpose of the study The aim of this retrospective analysis was to examine complications and technical difficulties observed during implantation of total hip arthroplasty (THA) after treatment of an acetabular fracture. Material and methods Forty patients (thirty men and ten women), mean age 50 years, were included in the study. The acetabular fracture had been treated surgically in 23 and orthpedically in 17. Mean time from initial trauma to implantation of the THA was eleven years. Hydroxyapatite-coated cups were inserted without cement in 32 patients. Cemented cups in eight (with two Kerboull cross, one Muller ring, and five simple polyethylene). Five femoral stems were cemented. Preoperative planning was designed to restore the center of the initial hip rotation to avoid excessive cup medialisation. Acetabular defects found intraoperatively were significantly greater in the group of patients treated orthopedically than in those treated surgically (p = 0.02). Autografts were thus used more frequently in the former (65%). Results One patient presented an intraoperative complication. The postoperative complications included phlebitis (n = 1), infection (n = 1), fibular nerve paralysis (n = 2), dislocation (n = 4), and heterotopic ossification (n = 7). The rate of postoperative complications was significantly higher in the group of patients treated surgically (52.2% versus 17.6%, p < 0.02). At last followup, mean 52 months, the mean Postel-Merle-d'Aubigne function score was 16.7. The rate of acetabular revision was 15% with four cemented cups being replaced at more than ten years due to aseptic loosening. Two press-fit cups were replaced early for infection in one patient and disassembly in another. Discussion Despite the high rate of complications, the mid-term results were good, encouraging us to continue this procedure as the first intention treatment using either a press fit cup with or without an autograft, or a cemented cup with a metal ring (Kerboull or Burch-Schneider).