Total Hip Arthroplasty in Down Syndrome Patients: An Improvement in Quality of Life

The purpose this study was to assess survival rates, clinical outcomes, and radiographic outcomes of total hip arthroplasty in Down syndrome patients. We reviewed 26 total hip arthroplasties (21 patients) performed by four experienced hip surgeons. These patients had a mean age of 35 years and a mean follow-up of 106 months. Clinical outcomes were assessed using Harris Hip scores, and radiographic evaluation for component fixation and migration was performed. The overall survival with aseptic failure as an endpoint was 85%. The mean Harris Hip score improved to 84 points at final follow-up. While these patients can be challenging to treat, excellent surgical technique and selective use of acetabular constraint can reliably provide patients with excellent pain-relief and improved function.