Advanced containment methods for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: triple pelvic osteotomy versus Chiari osteotomy

INTRODUCTION: The goal of intervention in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is to prevent femoral head deformation by containing the head within the acetabulum. Currently, surgical containment methods are the mainstay of treatment, and pelvic osteotomies have been shown to be successful. They include triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO), Salter osteotomy, Chiari osteotomy and shelf procedure. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical and radiologic results for Chiari osteotomy and TPO in LCPD.METHODS: 29 children treated between 1980 and 2010 for LCPD in 2 centres were reviewed. 19 underwent TPO, and 10, Chiari osteotomy. Two independent observers assessed sequential radiographs and medical data. Each hip was preoperatively classed by clinical data, Catteral, Herring and Salter-Thompson classification, centre-edge angle (CE), and acetabular index (AI). The 2 groups were first tested for their comparability. After surgery the hips were classified by Stulberg classification, CE, AI, Harris Hip Score (HHS) and performance of further surgery. Chiari osteotomy and TPO have been secondary compared on these data by Wilcoxon test.RESULTS: Average follow-up was 4.2 years. The 2 groups were comparable before surgery. At first and last follow-up examination, statistically significantly superior results in patients with TPO regarding Stulberg classification (p = 0.01), AI (p = 0.002), pain (p = 0.02) and function (p = 0.01) in the HHS score were found. No differences were noticed concerning CE angle.CONCLUSIONS: In our series, TPO provided better radiologic and clinical outcomes compared to Chiari osteotomy, specially concerning the final Stulberg classification. We concluded that TPO should be preferred when indicated.