Aim. This pilot study aimed to identify the important symptomatic, functional and psychosocial aspects of hip disorders from the perspective of adolescent patients and their families in order to begin developing a patient-focused instrument (Bridging Adolescent Self-Reported Hip – BASH - score). Methods. This was a qualitative patient-centred study at a tertiary paediatric orthopaedic centre involving 50 adolescents aged 13–17 years, composed of five groups of 10 adolescents with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), hip dysplasia (DDH), labral tears undergoing arthroscopic treatment, lower limb trauma and a miscellaneous group with conditions including Perthes' disease. A control group of 100 adolescents were also interviewed from a local school. Adolescent and separate concurrent parent groups underwent an ‘open’ phase face-to-face or telephone interview (theme development). This involved agreeing or disagreeing with statements, and open exploration of ideas related to the ‘day in the life’ of an adolescent with hip problems in order to generate and specify themes. This was followed by ranking and finally, scoring and testing. Results. All focus groups consistently and successfully generated themes related to hip problems and the majority of adolescents and parents were able to easily localise their issues to the hip. The ranking activity enabled the final definition of three key themes: a) physical symptoms, b) limitations and restrictions on life activities and situations and c) emotional experiences and self-consciousness which formed the basis of scoring and testing and the test version of the BASH score for adolescents. Scaling was developed with a total of 20 items rated on a five-point scale based on the frequency of effect from 0 (always) to 5 (never) providing a maximum score of 100. Conclusion. The BASH score is the first patient-reported outcome score for adolescent hip disorders developed with adolescents for adolescents

We present our early experience of arthroscopic reduction of the dislocated hip in very young infants with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

Eight dislocated hips, which had failed attempts at closed reduction, were treated by arthroscopy of the hip in five children with a mean age of 5.8 months (4 to 7). A two-portal technique was used, with a medial sub-adductor portal for a 2.7 mm cannulated system with a 70° arthroscope and an anterolateral portal for the instruments. Following evaluation of the key intra-articular structures, the hypertrophic ligamentum teres and acetabular pulvinar were resected, and a limited release of the capsule was performed prior to reduction of the hip. All hips were reduced by a single arthroscopic procedure, the reduction being confirmed on MRI scan. None of the hips had an inverted labrum. The greatest obstacle to reduction was a constriction of the capsule. At a mean follow-up of 13.2 months (9 to 24), all eight hips remained stable. Three developed avascular necrosis. The mean acetabular index decreased from 35.5° (30° to 40°) pre-operatively to 23.3° (17° to 28°).

This study demonstrates that arthroscopic reduction is feasible using two standardised portals. Longer follow-up studies are necessary to evaluate the functional results.