Bilateral total hip replacement in pseudoachondroplasia.


Published online: Oct 27 2000

D C Wirtz, K Birnbaum, C H Siebert, and K D Heller.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Technology RWTH Aachen, Germany.

Abstract

Pseudoachondroplasia is an inherited skeletal dysplasia with short-limbed dwarfism and early onset of osteoarthritis. A 29-year-old pseudoachondroplastic woman presented with progressively painful hips secondary to severe osteoarthritis of both joints, so that total joint replacements were necessary to restore her mobility and quality of life. The implants inserted had to be specifically manufactured in accordance with the individual geometry and reduced bone size. In addition, the implants mechanical resistance to dynamic loading conditions had to be tested prior to total hip replacement surgery.