Rotational acetabular osteotomy for the treatment of dysplastic hips with end-stage osteoarthrosis--a biological alternative to total hip arthroplasty?

We evaluated the results of rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) for the treatment of dysplastic hips with end-stage osteoarthrosis. Sixteen patients, aged 15-45 years at the time of surgery, were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 8 years (range 3-17 years). Remodeling of the hip joint occurred in half of the patients, with significant clinical improvement. A subsequent total hip arthroplasty, however, was done within 2 years after RAO in two other patients who had had large bone cysts in the femoral head and acetabulum. We suggest that RAO may be the procedure of choice for selected young patients, especially teenage patients, to postpone total hip arthroplasty.