Objectives: Accurate preoperative planning is mandatory for a successful total hip arthroplasty (THA). Templating helps to achieve multiple technical goals, including offset restoration, leg-length equality, and components positioning. This study aims to measure how successful a new stepwise method for preoperative radiographic templating is in achieving postoperative restoration of anatomy.
Methods: We measured the relationship of several radiographic landmarks on the affected limb in comparison to the unaffected limb to define the appropriate position of the components. One hundred consecutive patients with unilateral disease undergoing THA were retrospectively analyzed. The preoperative templates were compared with the postoperative radiographs.
Results: Accuracy in achieving the desired offset, leg-length discrepancy within 5 mm, was 93 % and 100 % respectively. Acetabular component positioning within 2° was replicated in 92 %.
Conclusion: We conclude that this technique can help the surgeon to accurately reproduce the anatomy of the contralateral unaffected hip.