Is resurfacing arthroplasty appropriate for posttraumatic osteoarthritis?
BACKGROUND
High survival has been reported for resurfacing arthroplasty in patients with femoral deformities. Also, hardware removal may not always be necessary with resurfacing arthroplasty and may eliminate some of the difficulties performing total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with posttraumatic osteoarthritis.


OBJECTIVE
We therefore asked: (1) are survivorship higher in patients who underwent resurfacing arthroplasty compared with patients with nontraumatic osteoarthritis; and (2) are those higher compared with all patients who have resurfacing?


METHODS
We identified 29 patients (29 hips) who had hip resurfacing for posttraumatic arthritis. These were compared with a matched cohort who had hip resurfacings for nontraumatic osteoarthritis and to all patients who underwent hip resurfacing for osteoarthritis during this time. The mean age was 47 years and mean body mass index was 27 kg/m(2). Survivorship and Harris hip scores were compared. Radiographs were evaluated for signs of radiolucencies, penciling, or osteolysis. The mean followup was 39 months (range, 24-99 months).


RESULTS
The 5-year survivorship was 90% in the posttraumatic group, 93% in the matched osteoarthritis group, and 97% in the entire osteoarthritis cohort. The mean Harris hip score for the posttraumatic group at last followup was 90 points. Other than the patients who underwent revision, we observed no radiographic radiolucencies or loosening in any of the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The survival of resurfacing arthroplasty appears comparable to THA in posttraumatic osteoarthritis and for resurfacing in patients with osteoarthritis. Therefore, resurfacing may present an alternative treatment to THA in these patients.
Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, Center for Joint Preservation and Reconstruction, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Aaron J
AJ
Johnson
Michael G
MG
Zywiel
Uma I
UI
Maduekwe
Fei
F
Liu
Michael A
MA
Mont
Thomas P
TP
Gross
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D025981:Hip Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult