TRANSTROCHANTERIC ROTATIONAL OSTEOTOMY FOR OSTEONECROSIS OF THE FEMORAL HEAD -MINIMUM 5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical results of Sugioka’s transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy (TRO) for osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Materials and Methods: We reviewed 54 hips in 49 patients who underwent TRO between 1986 and 1998 (follow-up rate was 90%). The mean age of patients was thirty-six years. The average duration of follow-up was 116 months (range, 60 to 201 months). Risk factors for osteonecrosis was steroids in 23 patients, idiopathic in 15 patients, alcohol in 13 patients, and others in three patients. Using the staging system of The Japanese Investigation Committee of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 16 hips were in Stage 2, 23 hips in Stage 3A, 13 hips in Stage 3B, and two hips in Stage 4. Clinical assessments were made according to the Japanese Orthopaedics Association hip scoring system (JOA score).

Results: The overall results were excellent (JOA score of 90 to 100 points) in 22 hips (40.7%), good (80 to 89 points) in 16 hips (29.6%), fair (65 to 79 points) in 3 hips (5.5%), and poor (fewer than 64 points) in 13 hips (24.1%). The result was influenced by post-operative complications, the ratio of transposed intact femoral articular surface to the acetabular weight-bearing area after TRO, and the pre-operative stage. All hips with a ratio less than 40% showed progressive collapse. All Stage 2 hips with the ratio more than 40% showed excellent or good results. Conversely, 19% and 25% of the hips were fair or poor in Stage 3A and 3B hips even though the ratio was more than 40%. All Stage 4 hips had poor results.

Discussion: We conclude that satisfactory results can be achieved using TRO by maintaining exact surgical technique and by limiting the surgical indications. The hips in early or intermediate stages with sufficient intact area are good candidates for TRO.