COMPLICATIONS OF TROCHANTERIC OSTEOTOMY IN TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT

Nearly 5 per cent of 728 hips showed separation and migration of the trochanteric fragment after total hip replacement using the transtrochanteric approach and a cruciate two-wire technique of reattachment. In the 728 consecutive hips, 35 trochanters showed separation and 18 patients had a positive Trendelenburg test. The abductor weakness was correlated with the amount of separation especially if it exceeded 2 centimeters. Trochanteric separation was attributed to osteoporosis or poor technique in all but 2 hips, and trauma was implicated in one.