Custom hemiarthroplasties for retention of existing hardware associated with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Overview

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a rare genetic disorder that presents with heterogeneous phenotypes ranging from brittle bones to impaired hearing. Because of the decreased bone mineral density frequently observed in this patient population, many patients experience recurring and long-term fractures, which often require orthopaedic management. With the advancement of nonsurgical and surgical management and increased longevity of patients with osteogenesis imperfecta, the incidence of osteoarthritis has risen, presenting new orthopaedic challenges. However, compromised bone integrity and size combined with frequent existing hardware render traditional surgical therapies for osteoarthritis technically challenging in this patient population. In this report, we present a case in which we retained a portion of the patient's existing hardware, while performing staged bilateral custom hemiarthroplasties in a patient with osteogenesis imperfecta.