title: Trochanteric union following revision total hip arthroplasty.
abstract: Ninety-nine patients (106 hips) with a trochanteric osteotomy during revision total hip arthroplasty were evaluated at a minimum of 5 years after surgery. Trochanteric reattachment was done with monofilament cobalt-chromium wires. The influence of the following variables on trochanteric union was examined: a prior trochanteric osteotomy, an existing trochanteric nonunion, trochanteric advancement to the lateral femur, use of vertical (in addition to horizontal) wires through the trochanter, and use of a trochanteric mesh. Overall, union occurred in 92 of the 106 trochanters (87%). Fifty-three of 61 trochanters (86.9%) healed after an initial osteotomy, whereas 34 of 38 (89.5%) healed after a repeat osteotomy. Five of the 7 trochanters with an existing nonunion healed, and 5 of 5 trochanters reattached to a bulk allograft healed. Twenty-nine of 36 trochanters (80.5%) reattached to cancellous bone healed, compared with 58 of 65 (89.2%) that were reattached to the lateral femoral cortex. Ninety percent (83/92) of the trochanters reattached in conjunction with use of a chrome-cobalt mesh healed, compared with 64.3% (9/14) of those without (P < .05). Of the variables studied, only the use of mesh was statistically significant. Osteotomy through a previously healed trochanter, advancement of the trochanter to cortical bone, existing trochanteric nonunion, trochanteric reattachment to a bulk allograft, and lack of vertical wires for fixation did not adversely affect the likelihood of obtaining trochanteric union.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Bal
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D002858:Chromium Alloys; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011859:Radiography; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002858:Chromium Alloys