Long-term clinical and radiological outcome in patients with severe Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease after Chiari pelvic osteotomy: a mean of 14 years follow-up.

INTRODUCTION

The Chiari pelvic osteotomy (CPO) has been recommended as a salvage procedure to improve head coverage in case of hip joint incongruence in paediatric hip disease. In this study, we aimed to assess the long-term results of CPO for severe Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD).

METHODS

A total of 39 patients who underwent a CPO at our department between 1995 and 2010 were prospectively followed both radiologically (Stulberg classification) and clinically (Harris Hip Score [HHS], conversion into total hip arthroplasty). In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the cases of 12 hips (12 patients, 3 girls, 8 left hips) treated by CPO for severe LCPD (Catterall grade 3 or 4) with hip joint incongruence. Mean follow-up was 14.0 (range 7.6-21.3) years.

RESULTS

Mean age at surgery was 10.2 (range 8.2-17.8) years. Additional femoral osteotomy was performed in 8 patients. A good radiological result (Stulberg I or II) was achieved in 2 patients, a fair result (Stulberg III) in 4 patients, and a poor outcome (Stulberg IV or V) in 6 patients. Mean postoperative HHS averaged 93 (range 65-100) points. An excellent functional outcome (HHS 90-100 points) was achieved in 9 patients. No patient underwent total hip arthroplasty during follow-up. Postoperative limb-length discrepancy was found in 3 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

CPO for severe LCPD with hip joint incongruence resulted in good long-term clinical outcome in about ⅔ of our patients after a mean of 14 years. Our results suggest that CPO can still be considered as a salvage joint-conserving procedure in this selected group of younger patients.