Long-term follow-up results of rotational acetabular osteotomy in painful dysplastic hips: efficacy in delaying the onset of osteoarthritis.

We evaluated the results of rotational acetabular osteotomies in 13 severely dysplastic hips (11 patients) with subluxation. All of the patients were women, aged 20 to 35 years at the time of surgery, and 40 years or more at the time of follow-up. At a minimum follow-up period of 10 years, the patients had minimal or no pain. Of the 13 hips, 12 showed no significant findings of osteoarthritis. Comparing the outcome of these patients with the natural evolution of severely dysplastic hips, we concluded that rotational acetabular osteotomy may prevent the onset of osteoarthritis.