Aims Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a recognized complication following periacetabular osteotomy (PAO), but its patterns, incidence, and clinical relevance remain poorly defined. The commonly used Brooker classification, developed for total hip arthroplasty, is not fully applicable to HO after PAO. This study aimed to propose a new classification system specific to HO after PAO, evaluate its clinical relevance, and report the cumulative probabilities of radiological and symptomatic HO. Methods This retrospective study included 643 patients who underwent PAO between January 2006 and July 2024. A total of 308 patients (47.9%) had concomitant arthroscopic procedures. Radiographs were analyzed to identify HO using both the Brooker classification and a newly developed system. The cumulative probabilities of radiological and symptomatic HO were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Difference of variables between patients with and without HO was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to compare the predictive performance of the two classification systems. Results The cumulative probabilities of radiological and symptomatic HO at five years post-PAO were 30.4% and 3.8%, respectively. The probabilities were 41.9% in males and 29.2% in females. Four patients (2.8%) required surgical excision of HO, all classified as type 3 or 4 under the new system. The ROC analysis demonstrated superior predictive performance for the new classification system (AUC = 0.928) compared to the Brooker classification (AUC = 0.697; p = 0.007). No significant differences were found between the patients with and without HO in terms of age, sex, concomitant arthroscopic procedures, or receiving prophylaxis in addition to low-dose aspirin. Conclusion This study highlighted the cumulative probabilities of HO following PAO and introduced a new classification system that improved clinical relevance and predictive accuracy. These findings have provided insights into the incidence and management of HO after PAO, and laid the groundwork for standardized reporting and future research. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2025;6(11):1436–1445.
Lack of Bone-on-Bone Arthritis Is Not a Strict Contraindication for Mobile-Bearing Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty
Background: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is a viable option for patients with symptomatic knee arthritis isolated to 1 compartment. Previous articles have suggested that mobile-bearing UKA should not be performed in patients without bone-on-bone arthritis. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes and survivorship of mobile-bearing UKA in patients with severe osteoarthritis with bone-on-bone contact and patients with severe osteoarthritis but without bone-on-bone contact. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a single surgeon’s experience with medial compartment mobile-bearing UKA in 219 patients (271 knees) who underwent the procedure between 2007 and 2015. Anteroposterior and posteroanterior radiographs were reviewed, and arthritis was graded using the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) grading system. Only patients with grade D (severe arthritis) were studied. Of the patients who had grade-D arthritis, there were 81 patients (94 knees) with bone-on-bone arthritis and 82 patients (91 knees) without bone-on-bone contact. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Knee Society pain and function scores. Survivorship free of revision in these 2 groups was determined using Kaplan-Meier curves at 8 years. Results: There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of age (p = 0.91), sex (p = 0.21), or body mass index (p = 0.63). At the time of the final follow-up, there was no significant difference in Knee Society pain scores (p = 0.59) or Knee Society function scores (p = 0.9) between the 2 groups. There were 5 revisions in the group with bone-on-bone contact and 2 revisions in the group without bone-on-bone contact. The survivorship free of revision at 8 years was 95% for the group with bone-on-bone contact and 98% for the group without bone-on-bone contact (p = 0.45). Conclusions: Patients with severe knee arthritis (IKDC grade D) without bone-on-bone contact had similar outcomes of mobile-bearing UKA compared with patients with bone-on-bone contact. UKA is a safe and reliable option in patients with severe osteoarthritis who do not have bone-on-bone contact on preoperative radiographs and it should therefore not be considered a contraindication for mobile-bearing UKA as long as the patient’s symptoms are severe enough to warrant surgical intervention. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.