Applying the Hip-Spine Relationship: What X-Rays and Measurements Are Important?

Understanding spinopelvic motion and the dynamic relationship of the hip, spine, and pelvis is essential in decreasing the risk of instability after total hip arthroplasty. The hip-spine relationship is complex, and a detailed analysis of each patient’s spinopelvic mobility is warranted to help guide safe acetabular component positioning. Through the use of a standing anteroposterior pelvis X-ray, lateral spinopelvic radiographs in the standing and seated position, and advanced functional imaging, key spinopelvic parameters can be obtained. A systematic preoperative workup can help to identify hip-spine pathology that predisposes patients to instability, and can help in planning and establishing a patient-specific “safe zone.” Based on the presence of concomitant hip-spine pathology, patients must be evaluated thoroughly with preoperative imaging to plan for the optimal target acetabular cup position. This paper guides readers through important parameters and imaging associated to spinopelvic motion as it relates to total hip arthroplasty stability.