Outcomes associated with hip preservation using osteochondral allograft transplants and acetabular labrum reconstruction.

Background: Osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation with or without labral reconstruction is considered a hip preservation surgical treatment option for young, active patients. This study aims to report early outcomes for use of OCA and labrum allograft transplants for patients treated for symptomatic femoral head chondral damage and/or acetabular labrum deficiency after implementation of a comprehensive joint restoration approach.

Methods: 33 patients from a lifelong registry were included for analysis. Outcomes were compared for statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences based on graft preservation methodology (standard preservation [SP] vs. Missouri Osteochondral Preservation System [MOPS]), and based on surfaces treated (femoral head only, labrum only, or femoral head and labrum).

Results: Mean follow-up duration was 44.8 (range 12-95) months. Success was documented in 28 (84.8%) patients. For the SP cohort, successful outcomes were documented in 5 cases (50%), while all 23 MOPS cases (100%) were deemed successful at least 1 year after surgery. Hip preservation surgeries performed using MOPS grafts were associated with significantly (p = 0.001; OR = 47x) higher success rates, including significant and clinically meaningful improvements in PROMs at 1 and 2 years after surgery. Revision was performed in 2 patients in the SP cohort and failure requiring total hip arthroplasty was documented in 3 SP patients. Mean time to revision or failure was 23.6 (range 4-43) months. The surfaces treated were significantly associated with failure when comparing patients undergoing a femoral head OCA with or without labral reconstruction to those undergoing labral reconstruction only (p = 0.03; OR = 8.3x).

Conclusions: Patients with symptomatic femoral head cartilage loss and/or irreparable acetabular labrum deficiency undergoing femoral head OCA transplantation and/or labral reconstruction with meniscus allografts using MOPS-preserved tissues experienced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function through at least 2 years after surgery.