Proximal femoral derotation osteotomy for management of femoral malversion: a systematic review.

Femoral malversion is an under-recognized contributor to hip pain in younger adults. Under treatment is often a contributor to poor outcomes in hip preservation surgery. We reviewed the literature to analyse the outcomes of proximal femoral derotation osteotomy as a treatment for femoral malversion as well as propose our own management algorithm for treating such patients. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines searching four databases (PubMed, CINALH, MEDLINE and EMBASE) for studies investigating the outcomes of derotation osteotomy in treating malversion. Nine studies were found encompassing 229 hips. At a mean follow-up of 39.9 months across the studies, there were only two conversions (1%) to total hip arthroplasty and four revision cases in total. Seven of the nine studies reported improved functional outcomes in their cohorts, with the mean Harris hip score improved from 63.7 to 87.3 where reported. There is a paucity of literature around the outcomes of proximal femoral derotation osteotomy. However, both the evidence available and the authors' experience suggest that consideration of femoral malversion is an essential component of hip preservation surgery, improving functional outcomes in cases of excessive femoral anteversion and femoral retroversion.