Triple osteotomy of the pelvis for acetabular dysplasia

Reorientation of the acetabulum may be required in adolescents and young adults with developmental dysplasia of the hip. We have carried out a retrospective review of 51 hips after triple osteotomy with an average follow-up of ten years (8 to 15). Forty-eight hips (94%) were available for review and of these 39 (81%) were improved compared with before operation, 29 (60%) scoring good or excellent. Radiographic assessment showed improvement of the average centre-edge angle by 19 degrees, the acetabular index by 12 degrees and the anterior centre-edge angle by 26 degrees. The degree of osteoarthritis progressed by one grade in ten hips (21%) over a period of ten years. The satisfactory long-term clinical and radiographic results have encouraged us to continue this treatment for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia in these patients.