Background

Stable and correct positioning of the socket in cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) with subsequent severe bone stock deficiencies is one of the most challenging problems in total hip arthroplasty (THA). This is especially true in Crowe type II, III and IV hips [1]. While various shelf procedures have been used for operative treatment of DDH since the last century, Merle d'Aubigné [2] was the first to report on the reconstruction of the deficient acetabular roof, in cases of dysplastic hip joints using a Judet prosthesis and massive autologous bone grafts. This procedure was later improved in both primary and revision THA [3, 4].

Detailed preoperative planning is needed in order to offer solutions which provide efficient bony support to restore the anatomic hip centre. The use of autologous and homologous bone grafts [5–19] as well as bone cement seals and reinforcement with metal rings or plates [20–26] have been described. Differing failure rates in the literature seem to depend on the follow-up time. However, the medium to long-term results of the different operative techniques remain contradictory. Autologous and homologous acetabular bone grafts were both reported to fail in the long-term due to non-union to the host bone and the subsequent mechanical failure, resulting in a breakdown of the bony structure of the transplanted bone followed by migration and loosening of the cup [9, 27].

The purpose of the present study was to review the results of the treatment of severe acetabular deficiencies in DDH with autologous bone grafts in THA at the authors' institution. The hypotheses were that good short- to midterm results and a low complication rates can be achieved with this operative procedure.

Methods

In a retrospective approach all THA cases in DDH requiring the use of autologous femoral head grafts at the acetabulum performed at the authors' institution in a 12-year period were identified from medical records. Full ethical approval was granted for the project by the local ethics committee. Informed consent was obtained in all cases prior to the inclusion into this study.

A contained acetabular defect was a necessary requirement for inclusion into the study. Acetabular discontinuity based on the radiological findings and intraoperative confirmation was evaluated. Femoral head grafts were indicated when > 20% of the cup remained uncovered by bone in its ideal position.

An anatomic cementless socket with a peg and a titanium mesh surface to facilitate bone ingrowth was used in all hips (Griss cup, Sulzer Medica, Switzerland) [28]. The acetabular components were implanted in a press fit technique and additionally fixed with nails. An effort was made to place the socket at the level of the original acetabulum. Autologous bone grafts from the harvested femoral head were used in all cases.

Autologous bone was always harvested at time of the index surgery and no sterilisation procedures or other additional processing were undertaken. Grafts were usually fixed to the lateral defect of the acetabulum with two cancellous compression screws and washers. The operative technique was originally described by Andrian-Werburg and Griss et al. [3]. Postoperative non-weight-bearing of the operated limb was necessary for 6 weeks. Physiotherapy was applied to mobilize the hip joint. Full weight bearing was allowed after three months.

The clinical results were analysed according to the Merle d'Aubigné hip score [29]. Antero-posterior (AP) radiographs of the hip were scanned and analysed with the DiagnostiX®-software system (Gemed, Freiburg, Germany). Radiolucencies at the bone-socket interface were classified using three zones as described by DeLee and Charnley [30]. Graft incorporation was assessed by the disappearance of the radiolucent line between graft and host bone and the remodelling of the inner structure of the bone graft. Coverage of the socket by bone graft was measured according to the DeLee/Charnley zones [30].

Reconstruction of the anatomic hip centre is an important part of any hip procedure. The centre of rotation of the hip joint can be determined in unilateral disease by mirroring the opposite, non-affected side. In the other cases, a previously described method was used to determine the anatomic rotation centre of the hip [31].

Wear of the polyethylene socket was measured on radiographs by determining the difference between the position of the femoral head inside the socket after index operation and at the latest follow-up. The radiographic measurement was made as described by Griffith et al. [32]. Clinical failure was defined as any need for revision of the acetabular component.

The measurements for the cups' individual movement directions were evaluated using a mixed linear model. The basis for this was the immediate postoperative image. For the observation of the change in position over the entire period, a variance analysis (F-test) was applied. All available radiographs were used for the adaptation of the model. The evaluation was carried out using the statistics programme "R" of the R-Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. The Wilcoxon sign rank sum test was used to compare the Merle d'Aubigné hip scores. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.

Results

A total of 101 patients (118 hips, 100 female, 18 male) could be identified. Six patients (6%) were lost to follow-up and another six patients died of reasons unrelated to surgery with implants still in place. 89 patients were available for clinical and radiological follow-up (104 hips) at an average postoperative follow-up of 68 ± 15 (13 to 159) months. This study group included 87 female hips and 17 male hips. The mean age at operation was 56 ± 11 (23 - 86) years and the average body mass index (BMI) was 26.4 ± 4.5 (17.8 – 50.1).

The Crowe classification for each hip dysplasia was determined preoperatively and showed type II in 41 cases, type III in 42 cases and type IV in 21 cases [1].

The postoperative Merle d'Aubigné score was 16.3 ± 2.1 points compared to 9.1 ± 1.4 points prior to operation. The postoperative improvement of an average of 6.5 ± 1.1 points was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The lateral inclination angle of the sockets was reduced from a preoperative 54.2 ± 10.7 to 38.2 ± 9.4 (range 16 - 62) degrees on average (p < 0.01).

There were no radiological signs of non-union or graft necrosis in the included cases (Figure 1). All grafts were incorporated within twelve months after operation judging by serial radiographs. Resorption of lateral parts of the bone graft was considered significant only if it exceeded the lateral unloaded rim of the socket. Four such cases were seen but the resorption was restricted only to the lateral edge of the graft. The bone coverage of the socket was not affected and all implants appeared radiologically and clinically stable.

Figure 1
figure 1

a-b: Anteroposterior pelvic radiograph of a 43 year old female with bilateral hip dysplasia and coxarthrosis. (a). Pelvic radiograph made five years after right and 6 years after left THA. The sockets are stable, and the bone grafts have healed (b).

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According to the DeLee/Charnley zones, the coverage of the socket by the bone graft was measured. 78% covered zone I, 19% zone I and II and 3% zone all three zones (mean: 57 degrees of a possible maximum of 180 degrees) (Figure 2).

Figure 2
figure 2

Measurement of socket/graft coverage according to Charnley and DeLee; α = coverage angle.

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The length of the contact zone between graft and host bone was in mean 36 ± 4 mm (range 12 to 110 mm), when measured on AP radiographs (Figure 3). The graft thickness ranged from 1 - 5 cm with a maximum of 2.6 cm for both autologous and homologous grafts (Figure 4).

Figure 3
figure 3

Measurement of host/graft contact area.

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Figure 4
figure 4

Graphic representation of measurements of the autologous graft thickness.

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In congenital hip dysplasia it has to be considered that the hip centre is often located relatively high. A correction of the hip centre by 20.8 mm into the medial and 11.4 mm into the distal direction on average could be shown (p < 0.01). Wear of the polyethylene socket was 1.2 ± 0.4 mm at the latest follow-up.

Complications after operation occurred in 16 cases: one deep vein thrombosis, four femoral nerve palsies, and three patients suffered a dislocation of the hip. Heterotopic ossifications occurred in eight cases. All these cases were operated in the time before routine prophylaxis with Indometacine or low-dose irradiation was introduced as a standard procedure at the authors' institution. No infections were seen.

Seven patients were revised for aseptic loosening of the socket. The revisions were carried out within 56 to 159 months after implantation (90 ± 34 months). In all revision cases, the transplanted grafts were intraoperatively seen to be vital. The grafts were evaluated macroscopically and had normal bleeding characteristics after drilling and reaming. In two cup revision cases, a cementless pressfit socket was used, in two other cases a cemented socket and in three cases, an acetabular cage with a cemented cup was applied.

Seven of all operated hips showed radiolucent lines at the socket-graft interface, which were all less than two millimetres in thickness at latest review. Two of these were in DeLee and Charnley zone I, 1 in zone II, 2 in zones I and II and 2 in zones II and III. These cases were not considered a failure.

Migration of the socket was seen in six cases 12 to 58 months after surgery (31 ± 21 months). However, there was no clinical evidence of loosening of the socket in these cases and an annual radiological examination was recommended.

Discussion

The presented data show that severe bony defects due to DDH can be successfully reconstructed biologically. The use of autologous femoral head grafts with cementless cups in primary THA can achieve promising short- to midterm results in patients with hip dysplasia.

There are some limitations to this study mainly due to its retrospective design and the follow-up range from 13 to 159 months. To estimate radiolucencies and signs of socket loosening, serial X-rays were analyzed. However, the extent of radiolucent lines and tilting or subsidence of the cup remains difficult to assess. Results of x-ray examinations should be analysed with caution. Variation of the pelvic position between radiographs may lead to a change of at least five degrees or two to three millimeters in cup position or thickness of radiolucencies. There are limitations in ensuring graft integration by plain radiographs. In revision cases with cup loosening graft vitality was evaluated macroscopically. No histological analysis of biopsies was performed.

There is no doubt about the need to restore the anatomic hip centre and provide a good initial and long-term stability in cases of severe acetabular deficiency due to congenital hip dysplasia especially in Crowe type II, III and IV hips [1]. There are several methods to achieve this goal. However, Morand et al. [33] reported a failure rate of 13% with an average follow-up of 7.3 years using bulk allografts and cemented cups. McCollum et al. [13], Marti et al. [34] and Hartwig et al. [35] reported similar results. Stans et al. [36] found 53% loose cemented acetabular components at an average of 16.6 years. They pointed out that the reconstruction of the femoral head centre is predictive of successful long term acetabular component fixation. The loosening rate rose up to 83.3% in cases of cup positioning outside the anatomic hip centre. However, bulky cement seals were used to fill large bone defects which could explain these unsatisfactory results.

In our experience, there are a number of factors that influence the successful incorporation of autologous massive grafts:

  1. 1.

    Quality of bone: Femoral heads retrieved from cases of primary DDH are mechanically more stable than homologous grafts taken from patients with femoral neck fractures with a high likelihood of osteoporosis.

  2. 2.

    Graft orientation in relation to the host bone is of utmost importance. We always try to bring the subchondral sclerotic part of the graft in contact with the sclerosis of the acetabular roof and the loaded area of the new socket. Thus, the graft is always inserted as an inlay and not as an onlay graft [4].

  3. 3.

    Screw orientation is also of significance. We recommend screw orientation for graft fixation close or parallel to the ideal resultant hip force. Horizontal or close to horizontal screw placement increases screw fracture and graft resorption or migration. Axial compression of the graft and the reconstructed acetabular roof by correct screw placement enhances bone remodelling and graft incorporation.

  4. 4.

    The reconstruction of the anatomical rotational centre of the hip is of particular importance [37, 38]. So the restoration of a physiological load transfer from the socket through the graft to host bone gives the most favourable basis for incorporation and remodelling of the graft.

  5. 5.

    Matching of defect and graft size and shape is often technically demanding but essential for primary stability of the construction and successful incorporation of the graft under load. In primary THA, the femoral head is therefore fixed to the acetabular defect „face to face". Then reaming is started medially into the graft.

  6. 6.

    The selection of socket design for non cemented implantation is also of importance. In our early experience in the 70's screw-in sockets or square-shaped sockets [39, 40] proved to be less successful, supposedly mainly due to design and the material used at this time. We now prefer anatomical press-fit sockets. If there are problems with graft stability or graft fitting, acetabular supporting shells with cemented cups should be given preference.

With these considerations it seems to be difficult to compare the presented results with those of other authors.

Reports of revision operations with histological evidence of osteonecrosis of the graft and only partial or no graft incorporation may reflect rather technical problems of graft fixation than the general biological fate of both homologous and autologous grafts. The higher failure rate of massive homologous grafts in other series [7, 9, 34, 41, 42] can not only be attributed to the nature of homologous grafts alone but at least in part also to the poorer bone quality and regenerative capacity of the host bone in revision cases. Exact fitting of the graft, screw placement and tight fixation in arthroplasties can be quite difficult in highly deficient acetabula, especially in older patients whereas bone quality in primary THA for severe acetabular dysplasia is usually good and the patient's are younger.

It has been suspected that the remodelling process cannot reach the inner core of massive structural bone grafts. In this respect, autologous and homologous grafts have to be discussed separately. Marti et al. [34] preferred an operative technique of reconstructing the deficient acetabulum using bulk autologous grafts harvested from the iliac bone of the patient or in the case of primary THA grafts from the femoral head. Bulk grafts were cut into two or three smaller pieces to facilitate revascularisation and were attached with screws or plates. In all cases, osteointegration of the graft was seen. In the case of homologous grafts, the results seem to be worse. Histological findings showed no remodelling of the central part of the transplanted homologous bone samples [43, 44]. Apparently a bulk homologous graft is able to provide long-term stability despite incomplete remodelling of the core. On the other hand, Gordon et al. [45] demonstrated by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) analysis normal radionuclide activity as a sign of osseointegration for both autologous and homologous femoral head grafts four to seven years after the operation. Positron emission tomography (PET) can be used to study metabolic events in vivo. Ullmark et al. analyzed the course of bone healing in the impacted allograft beds in the acetabulum using PET [46].

Assuming that the remodelling process depends on the blood supply of the graft, it is necessary to direct attention to an improved operative technique. To what extent the revascularisation can be accelerated by small drill holes into the graft is matter of discussion.

To improve bone remodelling some authors favours the use of cortico-cancellous bone chips. Good results with this method were reported by Azuma et al. [47] and Heekin et al. [48]. However, it remains questionable if this method is useful in cases of uncontained defects, when initial stability cannot be achieved. To avoid an initial instability and to protect the graft, the use of metal supporting rings is proposed [22, 49]. In cases of severe forms of congenital hip dysplasia, the reconstruction of the deficient lateral rim of the acetabulum with morsellised cancellous bone chips as well as stabilisation with screw or press-fit sockets appears difficult or impossible to perform.

During revision surgeries performed in this series a substantial incorporation of the autologous graft was observed in all cases. Thus, precise reaming and placement of a new socket was facilitated in the revision procedure. Bal et al. [50] found good clinical and radiological results after at 76 months follow-up after revision THA using the previous transplanted bulk femoral head grafts as bone stock for the support of the new cementless socket.

Differing failure rates in the literature also seem to depend on the follow-up time. Mulroy and Harris [27] emphasize that a late failure of bulk allograft is to be expected. They found a total of 46% of loose cups after a mean follow up of 11.8 years. Five years earlier, all sockets seemed to be stable. A longer follow-up of the presented series will show if the yet promising results can be confirmed. So far, a failure rate of 6.7% is encouraging.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the use of autologous femoral head grafts with cementless cups in primary THA can achieve promising short- to midterm results in patients with hip dysplasia.