Rotational acetabular osteoplasty (RAO) has been obtaining satisfactory results as an open treatment for shelf aplasia, and arthropatic changes have been, however, reported to advance in the unoperated side. The purposes of the present study were to confirm whether sufficient load was administered to the operated side of the patients receiving RAO, and to examine the change in load rate of the operated side and the required time regaining sufficient load. Load rates of the operated and unoperated sides of 42 patients receiving RAO (42 joints) were measured, and the patients were divided into 4 groups according to elapsed time from the operation. Patient group within 2-year period after the operation showed a significantly smaller load rate in the operated side, compared with other groups, but the rate tended to reach 50% in both sides with an elapse of time. In patient group of more than 3 years after the operation, there were a few patients who had received the operation to the unoperated side without any loading on the operated side, and who had been diagnosed as suitable for operation. These results indicate that load rate should be increased to 50% in both operated and unoperated sides at the earlier time.
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