Periacetabular osteotomy for dysplastic hip joint – experiences in Helsinki

e Bernese rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO) was developed in 1983 (1) in order to prevent the development of arthrosis in young patients with hip dysplasia, and several reports on satisfactory results have subsequently been published (2–9). e RAO performed through the two most frequently used approaches, the ilioinguinal and Smith-Petersen, requires a broad dissection of the pelvic bones and detaching of muscle insertions (10). A less invasive method which was developed initially for pelvic and acetabular fractures was modifi ed for rotational acetabular osteotomy in 1994 at our department. is two-incision anterior technique includes both an extraperitoneal and an anterolateral exposure (ilioanterior approach) of the pelvic bones allowing an unconstrained approach to the medial acetabular wall leaving the lateral true acetabular area untouchable (11).