Total hip arthroplasty (THA) in teenagers is uncommon and previously associated with poor survival rates. However it is sometimes the only option remaining to relieve pain and improve function in patients with advanced hip disease. We report on the clinical and radiological outcomes of THA in teenage patients. Medical records and radiographs of all consecutive teenage patients undergoing THA at a tertiary referral centre between 2006–2011 were reviewed. Mean follow-up was 3.4 years (range 0.6–6.8) with 9 patients having at least 5 years follow-up. Post-operative Harris hip, Oxford hip (OHS) and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) activity scores were recorded. 51 THAs were performed in 43 patients (21 male, 22 female) with a mean age of 17 years (range 12–19). The 5 most common indications were slipped upper femoral epiphysis osteonecrosis 15 (29.4%), developmental hip dysplasia osteonecrosis 5 (9.8%), multiple/spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia 5 (9.8%), chemotherapy-induced osteonecrosis 4 (7.8%) and idiopathic osteonecrosis 4 (8.2%). 46 (90%) were uncemented THAs and 5 (10%) were reverse hybrid THAs with 7 computer assisted design/manufacture (CADCAM) femoral implants. Articular bearings were ceramic/ceramic in 40 (78.4%), metal/metal 6 (11.8%), metal/polyethylene 3 (5.9%) and ceramic/polyethylene 2 (3.9%). The survival rate was 96% with 2 acute head revisions for 1 sciatic nerve palsy and 1 instability. Other complications (8.2%) included 1 dislocation, 1 sciatic nerve palsy that resolved, 1 surgical site infection and 1 unexplained pain. At latest follow-up, the mean Harris hip score was 90 (68–99), OHS was 42 (32–48) and UCLA activity score was 6 (4–9). Radiological analysis showed 2 patients with lucent lines around the acetabular component, but no signs of osteolysis or wear. As one of the largest studies on teenagers undergoing THA, we report good clinical and radiological outcomes at short to intermediate term follow-up.

The results for autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) in the treatment of osteochondral defects in the knee are encouraging. At present, two techniques have been described to retain the chondrocyte suspension within the defect. The first involves using a periosteal flap harvested from the distal femur and the second involves using a type I/III collagen membrane. To the authors' knowledge there are no comparative studies of these two techniques in the current literature.

A total of 68 patients with a mean age of 30.52 years (range 15 to 52 years) with symptomatic articular cartilage defects were randomised to have either ACI with a periosteal cover (33 patients) or ACI with a type I/III collagen cover (35 patients). The mean defect size was 4.54 cm² (range 1 to 12 cm²). All patients were followed up at 24 months.

A functional assessment using the Modified Cincinnati score showed that 74% of patients had a good or excellent result following the ACI with collagen cover compared with 67% after the ACI with periosteum cover at 2 years (p>0.05). Arthroscopy at 1 year also demonstrated similar results for both techniques. However, 36.4% of the periosteum covered grafts required shaving for hypertrophy compared with 1 patient for the collagen covered technique.

This prospective, randomised study has shown no statistical difference between the clinical outcome of ACI with a periosteal cover versus ACI with a collagen cover at 2 years. A significant number of patients who had the ACI with periosteum technique required shaving of a hypertrophied graft within the first year of surgery. We conclude that there is no advantage in using periosteum as a cover for retaining the chondrocytes within an osteochondral defect; as a result we advocate the use of an alternative cover such as a porcine-derived, type I/III collagen membrane.