BACKGROUND: Although extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) is an effective technique for femoral stem removal and for the concomitant management of proximal femoral deformities, complications including persistent pain, trochanteric nonunion, and painful hardware can occur. METHODS: The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried for publications utilizing the following keywords: "extended" AND "trochanteric" AND "osteotomy." RESULTS: Nineteen articles were included in the present study with 1478 ETOs. The mean overall union rate of the ETO was 93.1% (1377 of 1478 cases), while the overall rate of radiographic femoral stem subsidence >5 mm was 7.1% (25 of 350 cases). ETO union rates and femoral stem subsidence rates were similar between patients with periprosthetic fractures treated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) revision and ETO and patients treated with THA revision and ETO for reasons other than fractures. There was limited evidence that prior femoral cementation and older age might negatively influence ETO union rates. CONCLUSION: There was moderate quality evidence to show that the use of ETO in aseptic patients undergoing single-stage revision THA is safe and effective, with a 7% rate of ETO nonunion and subsidence >5 mm in 7%. ETO can be safely used in cases with periprosthetic fractures in which stem fixation is jeopardized and a reimplantation is required. A well-conducted ETO should be preferred in selective THA revision cases to prevent intraoperative femoral fractures which are associated with deteriorated clinical outcomes. The use of trochanteric plate with cables should be considered as the first choice for ETO fixation.
BACKGROUND: Although extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) is an effective technique for femoral stem removal and for the concomitant management of proximal femoral deformities, complications including persistent pain, trochanteric nonunion, and painful hardware can occur. METHODS: The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried for publications utilizing the following keywords: "extended" AND "trochanteric" AND "osteotomy." RESULTS: Nineteen articles were included in the present study with 1478 ETOs. The mean overall union rate of the ETO was 93.1% (1377 of 1478 cases), while the overall rate of radiographic femoral stem subsidence >5 mm was 7.1% (25 of 350 cases). ETO union rates and femoral stem subsidence rates were similar between patients with periprosthetic fractures treated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) revision and ETO and patients treated with THA revision and ETO for reasons other than fractures. There was limited evidence that prior femoral cementation and older age might negatively influence ETO union rates. CONCLUSION: There was moderate quality evidence to show that the use of ETO in aseptic patients undergoing single-stage revision THA is safe and effective, with a 7% rate of ETO nonunion and subsidence >5 mm in 7%. ETO can be safely used in cases with periprosthetic fractures in which stem fixation is jeopardized and a reimplantation is required. A well-conducted ETO should be preferred in selective THA revision cases to prevent intraoperative femoral fractures which are associated with deteriorated clinical outcomes. The use of trochanteric plate with cables should be considered as the first choice for ETO fixation.