Primary total hip replacement in childhood,adolescence and young patients: Quality and outcome of clinical studies

Abstract

Objective:

The present meta-analysis illustrates relevant information about hip replacement in young patients that has been published during the past 3 decades.

Material and methods:

Based on a MedLine literature review a total of 95 studies were evaluated. Parameters for evaluation of study quality and outcome were implant survival rates (ISR), number of patients, indications, follow-up, surgical approaches and number of surgeons.

Results:

Most studies consider patient numbers <50. In 33 studies one implant system was applied compared to 65 studies in which more than one system was used. Most studies include different surgical approaches. 20% of all studies contained neither the number of surgeons, nor the type of surgical approach. The overall ISR could be evaluated in 67 studies. Sufficient data about the ISR of stem and/or sockets were available in 50 papers.

Conclusions:

Most published studies analyzed inhomogeneous study populations; study variables vary as do the implants used for treatment.