TROCHANTERIC UNION FOLLOWING REVISION TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY

Ninety-nine patients (106 hips) with a trochanteric osteotomy during r evision total hip arthroplasty were evaluated at a minimum of 5 years after surgery. Trochanteric reattachment was done with monofilament co balt-chromium wires. The influence of the following variables on troch anteric union was examined: a prior trochanteric osteotomy, an existin g trochanteric nonunion, trochanteric advancement to the lateral femur , use of vertical (in addition to horizontal) wires through the trocha nter, and use of a trochanteric mesh. Overall, union occurred in 92 of the 106 trochanters (87%). Fifty-three of 61 trochanters (86.9%) heal ed after an initial osteotomy, whereas 34 of 38 (89.5%) healed after a repeat osteotomy. Five of the 7 trochanters with an existing nonunion healed, and 5 of 5 trochanters reattached to a bulk allograft healed. Twenty-nine of 36 trochanters (80.5%) reattached to cancellous bone h ealed, compared with 58 of 65 (89.2%) that were reattached to the late ral femoral cortex. Ninety percent (83/92) of the trochanters reattach ed in conjunction with use of a chrome-cobalt mesh healed, compared wi th 64.3% (9/14) of those without (P < .05). Of the variables studied, only the use of mesh was statistically significant. Osteotomy through a previously healed trochanter, advancement of the trochanter to corti cal bone, existing trochanteric nonunion, trochanteric reattachment to a bulk allograft, and lack of vertical wires for fixation did not adv ersely affect the likelihood of obtaining trochanteric union.