To report the difference in the rates of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head following change in the hip abduction angle in the hip spica. Up until 2002, following closed and medial open reduction of the dislocated hip, the joint was immobilised in a 90° of flexion, 60° of abduction and 10-20° of internal rotation hip spica. The practice was changed after 2002 to 45° of hip abduction in the spica with other parameters remaining same. We audited the rates of radiologic AVN in these two groups of children. Group A, before 2002, had 20 children and in group B, after 2002 till Aug 2007, had 53 children. AVN was quantified on 2 year radiograph by the classification described by Salter and noted its progression on serial radiographs.Purpose of the study
Methods