Aim To find out how does the late surgical treatment of DDH after walking age affects quality of life at adulthood.

Patients and Methods 157 adults with 220 dysplastic hips were evaluated by physical examination, short-form 36 health questionnaire, WOMAC, Harris Hip Scoring, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Additional hip scores were applied. Data analyzed by using SPSS 11.0.

Results 39 hips of 24 patients were treated with open reduction (OR) (n=6), OR+femoral osteotomy (n=4), OR+iliac osteotomy (n=6), OR+femoral+iliac osteotomy (n=23) at a mean age of 7 years. 181 hips in 133 patients received no treatment for DDH. Mean age at evaluation was 38±13,6 years. No difference was found between treated and untreated groups in respect to SF-36 and WOMAC responses. Mean Total Harris Hip Score was slightly lower in untreated group (63 vs. 70, p=0,049). 74% of all cases have low back pain (LBP). LBP rate was not different for treated and untreated groups (80% vs. 73%, p=0,505). Interestingly, LBP was found to begin at an earlier age in treated group (23 vs. 32 years, p=0,000).

Conclusion This study failed to show that surgical treatment of DDH after walking age improves adulthood quality of life. Treatment for DDH should be performed before walking age to prevent progressive degenerations at many different joints, like; sacroiliac, lumbosacral and intervertebral joints besides the hips and knees.