Changes of gluteus medius muscle in the adult patients with unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip.
BACKGROUND
The gluteus medius muscle is essential for gait and hip stability. Changes that occur in the gluteus medius muscles in patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) are not well understood. A better understanding of DDH related changes will have positive repercussions toward hip soft tissue reconstruction.


METHODS
19 adult patients with unilateral DDH scheduled for total hip arthroplasty were assessed for: cross-sectional area (CSA), radiological density (RD) and the length of gluteus medius using computed tomograhpy(CT) (scanned before THA). Hip abductor moment arm and gluteus medius activation angle were also measured via hip anteroposterior radiographs.


RESULTS
Both CSA and RD of gluteus medius muscle were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the affected hip compared to the control. In the affected hip, the length of the gluteus medius muscle was reduced by 8-11% (p < 0.05) while the gluteus medius activation angle was significantly increased (p < 0.05) and the hip abductor moment arm was decreased (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The gluteus medius showed substantial loss of CSA, RD as well as decreased length in patients with DDH in the affected hip. These changes should be considered in both hip reconstruction and postoperative rehabilitation training in patients with DDH.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Second Hospital Affiliated to the Medical College of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Shaanxi 710004, People's Republic of China.
RuiYu
R
Liu
XiaoDong
X
Wen
ZhiQin
Z
Tong
KunZheng
K
Wang
ChunSheng
C
Wang
D000328:Adult; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D005260:Female; D006618:Hip Dislocation, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D057234:Preoperative Period; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed