Sliding trochanteric osteotomy preserves favorable abductor biomechanics in revision total hip arthroplasty

The outcome of sliding trochanteric osteotomy in revision total hip arthroplasty was assessed by comparing preoperative and postoperative static radiographic biomechanics and clinical hip abductor function of 22 consecutive operations (20 patients). Preoperative and postoperative pelvic radiographs were reviewed to quantify the biomechanical reconstruction of the hip abductor mechanism. Abductor muscle length and abductor moment arm were increased significantly (P < .05) by the operation. There was a significant (P <.05) increase in maximum degrees of active hip abduction from the preoperative to the postoperative state, an average of 32 months (range, 6-65 months) after surgery. The dysfunction index (a radiographic representation of hip torque) correlated positively (r = .63; P < .05) with active hip abduction. Sliding trochanteric osteotomy improves abductor biomechanics and may protect against trochanteric migration in revision total hip arthroplasty.