Volumetric measurement of the acetabular cavity in patients with unilateral neglected developmental dysplasia of the dislocated hip operated in a single time.

BACKGROUND

Plain radiography is the most often imaging method used for postoperative assessment of inveterate developmental dysplasia of the hip. This technique does not permit to achieve an accurate diagnose of intra-articular changes, specifically articular congruity.

OBJECTIVE

analyze the morphological changes of the acetabular volume by computed tomography, in patients operated by medium adductor myotomy, psoas tenotomy, open hip reduction, diaphysectomy, varus osteotomy and derotating and Dega-type acetabuloplasty.

METHOD: A pilot clinical trial was conducted including six patients with unilateral inveterate dysplasia admitted to the Rehabilitation National Institute. Computed tomography were analyzed using an engineering design software.

RESULTS

It was found that in all cases analyzed, operated acetabular volume was greater than the contralateral (8 to 48%), however, no significant difference between the volumes was found (p = 2.46). Significant difference between the volume and the age of patients, in multifactorial ANOVA tests (p = 0.006), Cochran's (p = 0.00019) and Kruskal-Wallis (p = 2.925 × 10-8) was found.

CONCLUSION

It is clear that the proposed measurement technique is able to identify differences between volumes (operated and contralateral). The clinical monitoring of these patients can validate the results obtained by this measurement technique, and it will serve to estimate the effectiveness of the surgical technique applied in patients.