Challenges and Solutions for Total Hip Arthroplasty in Treatment of Patients With Symptomatic Sequelae of Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Conditions that adversely affect a child’s hip alignment, joint congruity, or articular surfaces often result in joint destruction associated with pain and motion limitation later in life. The usual culprits are developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), slipped capital femoral epiphysis, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, infection, trauma, and neoplasm. In this review, we address DDH, the most common cause of secondary osteoarthritis of the hip.

Symptomatic sequelae of DDH present challenges for total hip arthroplasty, including excessive proximal femoral anteversion, narrowing of the medullary canal, acetabular anteversion, verticality, hypoplasia and incongruity, pseudoacetabulum, and neurovascular shortening. Presiding corrective femoral and/or acetabular osteotomies, as well as retained hardware, further complicate total hip arthroplasty. This review emphasizes evaluation of hip morphology while considering reconstructive techniques and implants.