Dynamic femoral head translations in dysplastic hips.

BACKGROUND: Developmental dysplasia of the hip is an important disease leading to osteoarthritis. Recently, researchers have focused on hip instability as a potentially important dynamic factor for osteoarthritis, but the detailed kinematics of dysplastic hips during weight-bearing gait have not been reported. The purpose of this research is to contrast femoral translation in contralateral healthy hips and dysplastic hips during weight-bearing stepping.

METHODS: Twelve dysplastic hips and eight healthy hips were investigated. Hip joint kinematics were analyzed using 3D-2D model-image registration with dynamic fluoroscopic images of each hip during a stepping-in-place activity. Femoral translation relative to the acetabular center was quantified as instability.

FINDINGS: Total femoral head translations were significantly different between dysplastic and contralateral healthy hips. Mean translation was 1.0mm in dysplastic hips and 0.4mm in contralateral healthy hips during swing-phase, and consisted of inferior translation during early swing phase with a complementary superior translation just before foot strike. Total femoral translation was significantly correlated to several radiographic indices of hip dysplasia.

INTERPRETATION: Superior translations of the femur during the end of swing phase may result in altered articular contact mechanics, abnormal stresses on the labrum and lost lubricant sealing. All of these factors may contribute to joint degeneration and osteoarthritis in dysplastic hips.