Hypermobility, age 40 years or older and BMI >30 kg m−2 increase the risk of complications following peri-acetabular osteotomy

The peri-acetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a powerful surgical procedure for correcting symptomatic acetabular dysplasia, but it carries the potential for significant surgical complications. This study aims to determine the complication profile of PAO in a series performed by an experienced single surgeon. This was as retrospective review of 223 hips in 200 patients (23 bilateral, 22 males and 201 females). Complication data were collected from notes and radiographic review and graded according to a modified Dindo–Clavien classification. Each hip could be recorded as having more than one complication. Mean age at surgery was 28.8 years (range 13-48), mean weight was 70.9 kg (range 45–115 kg). Diagnosis was dysplasia in 185 hips, retroversion in 25 and a combination in 13. Mean follow-up was 26 months. In all, 61.4% of hips (137) had no complications; 74.0% had no complications or a Grade I complication (one that did not change management); 52 hips (23%) required pharmaceutical interventions (Grade II complications). Six hips (2.7%) suffered a major complication (Grade III or IV) as a direct consequence of the PAO. There were no Grade V complications (death). Hypermobility (Beighton’s score of ≥6, Odds ratio (OR) 2.525 P = 0.041), age 40 years or older (OR 3.126 P = 0.012) and BMI >30 (OR 2.506 P = 0.031), but not Tonnis grade (P = 0.193) increased the risk of more severe complications following a PAO. This single surgeon series from a high volume centre demonstrates that age 40 years or older and BMI >30 kg m−2 and hypermobility increase the risk of more severe of complications.