Having a spinal deformity doesn’t necessarily need to stop you from getting a hip replacement, but it might increase your chances of hip dislocation afterwards, a new study shows.
Typically spinal surgeons place the new hip joint (acetabular cup) adjacent to the pelvic bone in what they call the “safe zone.” By placing the implant in this area, most patients are protected from joint dislocation later.
But that’s not necessarily the case for patients with spinal deformities such as sagittal spinal deformity, a leading cause of pain and disability. These patients are at higher risk of dislocating an artificial hip even when it is placed in the so-called safe zone.
The study was presented March 17, 2017 at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2017 Annual Meeting. The findings were also published online December 27, 2016 in the Journal of Arthroplasty.
Out of 107 patients with a spinal deformity, eight percent experienced dislocation as compared with one to two percent in the general population.
What does this mean for doctors and patients? A customized approach to hip replacement may be necessary for these patients. Spine surgeons and orthopedic surgeons may need to work more closely together to improve outcomes where spinal deformities are present.
While 92 percent of patients with a spinal deformity did not experience dislocation after their hip replacement, your orthopedic surgeon will want to know if you have a spinal deformity. Talk to your doctor about your individual medical situation.