Abstract
Introduction
Malposition of the acetabular component in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is linked to multiple adverse outcomes. Changes in the sagittal plane position of the pelvis, owing both to patient positioning in the operating room and to altered spinopelvic alignment following surgery, potentially contribute to variation in component position. The dynamics of sagittal plane pelvic position before, during, and after THA have not been defined. We measured the differences in pelvic ratio, a measure of sagittal plane pelvic position, between preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of patients undergoing THA in the lateral decubitus position.
Methods
We retrospectively compared the radiographic pelvic ratio among 90 patients undergoing THA. AP radiographs were obtained in the standing position preoperatively and at 6 weeks after surgery; in the lateral decubitus position after trial reduction intraoperatively; and in the supine position in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU). Pelvic ratio was defined as the ratio between the vertical distance from the inferior sacroiliac (SI) joints to the superior pubic symphysis and the horizontal distance between the inferior SI joints. Radlink software was used to determine the pelvic ratio on each radiograph. Changes in apparent cup position based on changes in pelvic ratio were calculated using data from the literature, and a change of at least 10 degrees in acetabular component position was defined as clinically meaningful. Analyses were performed using paired t-tests, with p<0.05 defined as significant.
Results
54% of patients had a change in pelvic ratio large enough to alter the apparent acetabular component anteversion by 10 degrees (49% increased and 6% decreased), and 12% had a change large enough to alter the apparent acetabular component inclination by 10 degrees (12% increased and 0% decreased) when the intraoperative AP radiograph was compared to the preoperative AP radiograph. 36% of patients had a change in pelvic ratio from the preoperative radiograph to the 6 week preoperative radiograph large enough to alter the apparent acetabular component anteversion by 10 degrees (5% increased and 31% decreased), and 8% had a change large enough to alter the apparent acetabular component inclination by 10 degrees (6% increased and 1% decreased).
Discussion
Changes in the sagittal plane pelvic position between preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative radiographs occur in a substantial number of patients. These changes correspond to altered functional position of the acetabular component in over half of patients on the intraoperative radiograph and over one third of patients on postoperative radiographs. This variability suggests that intraoperative imaging may be useful for avoiding outliers of component position, and calls into question the feasibility of achieving targeted component positions based on preoperative imaging alone.
