Sliding osteotomy of the greater trochanter.

Trochanteric osteotomy is commonly used to facilitate surgical exposure in difficult cases of total hip arthroplasty or acetabular fracture fixation. In this paper, we report our experiences using the sliding trochanteric osteotomy performed in 3 patients for acetabular fracture fixation and in 2 patients with total hip arthroplasty. Using the sliding trochanteric osteotomy technique facilitates improved exposure, reduction, and internal fixation of acetabular fractures, especially those involving the dome and the posterior wall. Sliding osteotomy of the trochanter also permits trochanteric advancement when the abductors are weak or the prosthesis is unstable during total hip arthroplasty. No significant complications occurred from this technique, and the postoperative clinical course was satisfactory in all patients.