Abstract
1. The results of Chiari pelvic osteotomy have been examined two to six years after operation in a group of eighteen patients with persisting acetabular dysplasia in the second and third decades.
2. The analysis suggests that for a good clinical result it is essential to create a relationship of the new outer acetabular lip to the original lip so that the CE angle is between 20 and 40 degrees and the roof angle is between 10 degrees below and 20 degrees above the horizontal.
3. This may be achieved by a pelvic osteotomy immediately above the joint capsule, angled 10 degrees upwards and inwards and displaced by 50 per cent of the pelvic thickness.
4. Details of the operative technique using a Smith-Petersen approach are presented.