Anterior trochanteric slide osteotomy for primary total hip arthroplasty. Review of nonunion and complications.

The radiographic results of 73 anterior trochanteric slide osteotomies were retrospectively reviewed at an average of 36 months after primary hip arthroplasty to determine the incidence of nonunion of the trochanter and complications related to trochanteric hardware. In each case, the trochanter was retracted anteriorly, with the gluteus medius and vastus lateralis muscle insertions left intact. Reattachment was performed with 2 monofilament wires or cables passed through the lesser trochanter in each case. Ninety-two percent of the trochanters healed; nonunion was associated with anterior displacement of the trochanteric fragment with external rotation of the femur. The incidence of repeat surgery for hardware-related problems was 28%. Although the slide osteotomy prevented proximal migration of the trochanteric fragment, the incidence of hardware complications was too high to justify the routine use of this approach in primary hip arthroplasty.