Variations in pelvic tilt during day-to-day activities after total hip arthroplasty measured with an ultrasound system.

INTRODUCTION: The pelvis plays a major role in the orientation of total hip arthroplasty (THA) implants and consequently, on the postoperative stability of the new hip joint. The relationship between the spine and pelvis affects the functional orientation of the acetabular cup, although this relationship differs between individuals and the positions encountered in everyday life. We believe this should be factored in when planning the THA procedure. This led us to conduct an in vivo ultrasound study to document the values of pelvic tilt in standing, sitting and lying positions in patients who have advanced hip osteoarthritis, before and after they undergo THA.

HYPOTHESIS: The pelvic tilt when standing, sitting and lying supine does not change significantly after THA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pelvic tilt, defined as the angle between the anterior pelvic plane and a vertical line was measured using an ultrasound device in 30 patients before the THA procedure and again 6 months later in standing, sitting and lying positions. The measurements were done during an office visit with the patient on an examination table for the lying position, on a chair for the sitting position and with the heels and occiput against the wall for the standing position.

RESULTS: The preoperative and 6-month postoperative pelvic tilt were -5.6° ± 10.4° [-30.6°; 11.7°] and -5.8° ± 7.9° [-20.6°; 10.4°] (p = 0.4129) when standing, -44.5° ± 6.10 [-53.8°; -23.9°] and -43.5° ± 6.9° [-54.4°; -17.3°] (p = 0.5760) when sitting, -88.3° ± 5.1° [-99.3°; -78.7°] and -87.9° ± 5.9° [-97.6°; -72.4°] (p = 0.6106) when lying supine, respectively. There was no significant difference in the pelvic tilt before and 6 months after THA procedure. Variations of ± 5°; ± 5-10°; ± 10-15° and 15-20° were found in 72% (18); 20% (5); 4% (1) and 4% (1) of patients when lying supine, 56% (14); 36% (9); 8% (2); 0% (0) of patients when standing and 76% (19); 24% (6); 0% (0); 0% (0) when sitting. The mean variation for each patient between the preoperative and 6 month postoperative measurement was 4.8° ± 3.4° [0.8°; 10.4°] (p = 0.4129), 3.5° ± 2.3° [0.2°; 9.1°] (p = 0.5760), and 4.6° ± 3.2° [1.2°; 15.4°] (p = 0.6106) for the standing, sitting and lying positions respectively.

CONCLUSION: The pelvic tilt does not significantly change 6 months after THA. Taking into account the various positions used in everyday life may help to optimize the implant position. We have described the use of an affordable, accurate and non-irradiating device that provides fast and easy measurements of pelvic tilt in various positions.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.