Salter innominate osteotomy is an effective reconstructive procedure for the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), but some children have a poor outcome at skeletal maturity. In order to investigate factors associated with an unfavourable outcome, we assessed the development of the contralateral hip. We retrospectively reviewed 46 patients who underwent a unilateral Salter osteotomy at between five and seven years of age, with a mean follow-up of 10.3 years (7 to 20). The patients were divided into three groups according to the centre–edge angle (CEA) of the contralateral hip at skeletal maturity: normal (> 25°, 22 patients), borderline (20° to 25°, 17 patients) and dysplastic (<  20°, 7 patients). The CEA of the affected hip was measured pre-operatively, at eight to nine years of age, at 11 to 12 years of age and at skeletal maturity. The CEA of the affected hip was significantly smaller in the borderline and dysplastic groups at 11 and 12 years of age (p = 0.012) and at skeletal maturity (p = 0.017) than in the normal group. Severin group III was seen in two (11.8%) and four hips (57.1%) of the borderline and dysplastic groups, respectively (p < 0.001). . Limited individual development of the acetabulum was associated with an unfavourable outcome following Salter osteotomy. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2014;96-B:1419–23

We have studied retrospectively 37 hips in 36 children at an average of 91 months after simultaneous open reduction and Salter innominate osteotomy for developmental hip dysplasia. At the latest review 97.3% were clinically and 83.8% radiologically good or excellent. In three hips (8%) there were signs of avascular necrosis, but only one had been symptomatic. There were no cases of recurrent posterior displacement

Introduction & Discussion: From an experience of over 250 Salter osteotomies, 148 of which have been reviewed at skeletal maturity, certain technical tips merit discussion:-

Preoperative positioning and the incision

Psoas tenotomy, capsular exposure and the capsulotomy

Facilitation of the Gigli saw osteotomy

Sizing and procurement of the graft

Displacement and fixation of the osteotomy

Application of the hip spica

Some questions are worthy of debate:-

Can the osteotomy be safely combined with open reduction of the high dislocation?

Should the osteotomy be fixed before reducing the femoral head?

Are there alternatives to autogenous bone graft and K-wire fixation?

Is minimally invasive surgery an option?

Are the contraindications and alternatives to the Salter osteotomy fully appreciated?

A Salter innominate osteotomy is used to treat acetabular dysplasia, but reports of its effects on the position of the femoral head are few and conflicting. Lateral shift would increase the resultant forces acting on the joint and be detrimental. We studied 15 Salter innominate osteotomies and demonstrated that a correctly performed osteotomy does not significantly alter the distance from the centre of the femoral head to the midline of the body. Stereophotogrammetry was used in three patients to delineate the axis of rotation of the distal acetabular fragment and determine the locus of movement of the centre of the femoral head about it. Our results explain why the Salter osteotomy does not lateralise the femoral head

Treatment of residual acetabular dysplasia is still controversial regarding the timing of Surgery, and the type of surgical procedur. Material and Methods: We analyzed 70 patients (83 hips) operated between 1980–1988 year, in which Salter innominate osteotomy was performed in the treatment of residual acetabular dysplasia in DDH. Patients were divided in two different age groups: from 2–4 (53 hips) and 4–6 (30 hips) years. The average follow up was 7 years (from 2 to 10 years). Acetabular remodeling was radiographically assessed by measuring of the Acetabular Index (AI) at the beginning and after the 5 years of age subsequently by measuring the CE angle of Wiberg. All preoperative hips were dysplastic according to Tonnis (+2SD) criteria. Results were statistically analyzed by using the Student’s T test, and One Way Repeated Measures ANOVA, with the correction for the different age groups. Results: We found that there were no statistically significant differences in AI and CE angle between these two age groups and between these groups and normal values. Conclusion: We recommend Salter innominate osteotomy as a procedure of choice in the treatment of acetabular dysplasia in DDH, provided the patient is younger than 6 years of age

We present simple but effective retractors used in pairs to expose the sciatic notch during Salter innominate osteotomy. We have found them to be useful for a wide range of procedures requiring similar exposure. We present them here in tribute to the memory of the designer Mercer Rang

Salter’s innominate osteotomy predisposes the hip to acetabular retroversion as it hinges upon the symphysis pubis. Retroversion is a recognised cause of osteoarthritis, hip pain and clinical signs of impingement, but there is uncertainty as to whether this over cover persists with growth and development. We reviewed the long-term follow up of twenty patients that had undergone a Salter’s osteotomy between 1985 to 1993 at The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Birmingham or New Cross Hospital Wolverhampton. Sixteen skeletally mature patients were available for review that had previously had the pelvic osteotomy performed at a mean five years of age with a contralateral normal hip. Salter’s osteotomy had been performed for developmental dysplasia of the hip in 13 patients and for Perthes’ disease in three patients. Follow up was performed at an average age of 20 years. Outcome was assessed using the Harris Hip Score and a clinical examination for signs of impingement and by a measurement of acetabular version, on well centered pelvic radiograph. Acetabular version was evaluated by the relationship between anterior and posterior walls of both the normal and Salter acetabulum, using radiographic templates as described by Hefti. Mean acetabular version averaged 16.9 degrees (95% CI 7.6 to 26.1) of anteversion on the Salter side and 17.6 degrees (95% CI 10.4 to 24.8) anteversion on the contralateral normal hip. There was no statistical difference between the version on operated and normal hips, paired t test (p = 0.83). Harris Hip Score averaged 85, indicating a good outcome at long-term follow up. Two patients (12%) demonstrated retroversion, however neither of these had signs of impingement on clinical examination. After a Salter innominate osteotomy in childhood, we believe there is remodelling of acetabular version by skeletal maturity

We used hydroxyapatite blocks to keep open Salter innominate osteotomies in 19 children (21 hips), avoiding the need for an autograft taken from the anterior superior iliac spine. Our results were satisfactory, with less deformation of the iliac bone, and a reduction of both blood loss and operating time

The Salter innominate osteotomy has been used successfully for many years in the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip. One of its main drawbacks is the need for internal fixation with pins and their subsequent removal. We describe a modification of this osteotomy that does not require pin fixation and secondary removal. We retrospectively reviewed 114 hips in 94 patients who had been operated on by a single surgeon. An oblique rather than the original horizontal osteotomy was used without internal fixation. There were 80 female and 14 male patients. The mean age at operation was 25 months (18 to 84) and the mean follow-up was 30 months (12 to 88). Most patients required additional open reduction and capsuloplasty. The mean pre-operative acetabular index was 37.9° (24° to 54°), which decreased to 19.9° (7° to 29°) in the immediate post-operative period, and improved to 14.6° (5° to 25°) at the final follow-up (student’s t-test, p < 0.0001). We believe that by changing the direction of the osteotomy line, it is possible to avoid pin fixation. The radiological outcomes are comparable to those of the original technique, but longer follow-up will be necessary

Clinical and radiographic data on 47 hips in 45 patients with Developmental Hip Dysplasia who underwent either a Salters Innominate Osteotomy or a Femoral Derotation Varus Osteotomy by a single operator were reviewed. The average age of patients at the time of osteotomy was 21 months (range 12–108 months). Clinical evaluation was performed with use of the lowa hip rating score and the Harris hip score. Radiographs were evaluated pre=operatively, post-operatively and at final review. The mean duration of follow-up was 15 years 9 months (range 10–21 years). Thirty-five patients had a Salter innominate osteotomy, 11 a derotation varus osteotomies and one a Klisic. Al last follow-up examination the Iowa hip rating averaged 96.6 (range 62 to 100) and the modified Harris Hip Score averaged 96.8 (range 48 to 100). Forty seven percent of patients reported abductor fatigue after sport. Forty-one patients had excellent result with a Severin class I hip on radiographic evaluation. All of these patients had an Iowa index > 95 and a mean Centre-Edge angle of 35.5 (range 25–40). Six patients had a poor radiological outcome with 5 Severin class IV hips and one class V. Clinical outcome scores did not correlate with poor radiological outcome; Iowa hip score 92 (range 62–100). One patient required a Ganz periactabular osteotomy. The age at which primary osteotomy was performed was significantly higher in the poor outcome group with a mean of 50.8 months. When the anatomy of the hip is restored to normality at an early age with out the development of avascular necrosis excellent long-term results can be expected

The vertical configuration open MRI Scanner (Signa SPIO, General Electric) has been used to assess the place of interventional MR in the management of developmental dysplasia of the hip over the last four years. Twenty-six patients have been studied. In static mode, coronal and axial T1 – weighted spin echo images are initially obtained to assess the anatomy of the hip, followed by dynamic imaging in near-real time. In all cases, dynamic imaging was very good for assessing and demonstrating stability. The best position for containment can be assessed and a hip spica applied. Scanning in two planes gives more information and allows more accurate positioning than an arthrogram. Confirmation of location of the hip after application of the spica can be easily demonstrated. Adductor tenotomies have been performed within the imaging volume, and in two cases, this enabled planning of femoral osteotomies. All patients have had a satisfactory outcome, but five have required open reduction and a Salter innominate osteotomy. In ten cases, the opportunity has also arisen to alternative perform an arthrogram, either because of the complexity of the cases, or at a later date as an alternative to a repeat MRI, or because of difficulty with access to the machine. The place of interventional MRI in DDH is not yet defined. As machines get better and the definition improves, the amount of information about the nature of dislocation, the relative size of the acetabulum to the femoral head, the state of the limbus, the best position for containment and stability, and the potential for growth of the acetabulum, particularly posteriorly will be increased. It follows that the potential for more accurate definition of each hip and the outcome is better – and safer – than by arthrography, which remains the ‘gold standard’ but involves radiation and is only one-dimensional

Over the last several years, triple pelvic osteotomy has become our preferred method for surgical containment in Perthes disease. Since 1995, seventeen patients with Perthes disease have been treated with triple pelvic oste-otomy at our institution. Fourteen of seventeen patients (82%) had a good or excellent clinical result at latest follow-up. According to Sundt’s criteria, radiographic outcome was rated as good in fourteen patients (82%), fair in one patient and poor in two patients. Experience with the technical aspects of the procedure is necessary to avoid pseudarthrosis and iatrogenic external rotation of the acetabular fragment. To evaluate the efficacy of triple pelvic osteotomy as a method of surgical containment in Perthes disease. Recent trends point to surgery as the method of choice for containment in older children with Perthes disease. Over the last several years, triple pelvic osteotomy has become our preferred method for surgical containment in Perthes disease. Since 1995, seventeen patients (seventeen hips) with Perthes disease classified as either lateral pillar B or C have been treated with triple pelvic osteotomy at our institution. The average age at surgery was 8.5 years with an average follow-up of 4.3 years. Outcome was assessed using clinical as well as multiple radiographic criteria. Fourteen of seventeen patients (82%) had a good or excellent clinical result at latest follow-up. No patients had a residual limp or limb length inequality. Two patients had a minor postoperative complication (transient peroneal nerve palsy, meralgia paresthetica). According to Sundt’s criteria, radiographic outcome was rated as good in fourteen patients (82%), fair in one patient and poor in two patients. Triple pelvic osteotomy minimizes potential complications associated with other surgical methods such as Trendelenberg gait and shortening with proximal femoral osteotomy or hinge abduction following a Salter innominate osteotomy. Experience with the technical aspects of the procedure is necessary to avoid pseudarthrosis and iatrogenic external rotation of the acetabular fragment. Triple pelvic osteotomy is now our procedure of choice for containment in the older child with Perthes disease

We compared the clinical and radiological effects of the Salter and the Chiari pelvic osteotomy on congruent dysplastic adolescent hips with mild symptoms and free of degenerative changes. The Salter innominate osteotomy has a significant role in the surgery of paediatric hips with significant elasticity of triradiate cartilage, while the Chiari procedure is reserved for incongruent dysplasia with mild or moderate arthrosis in adolescents or young adults. Neither of these operative procedures is an ideal indication for congruent dysplastic adolescent hips free of arthrosis. Hypothetically, the residual remodelling potentials of immature congruent dysplastic adolescent hips can be sufficient to overcome the disadvantages of the Salter and the Chiari osteotomy and give good, long-lasting results. The effects of these quite different procedures in two homologous groups were compared. There were 30 hips treated with Chiari and 25 hips corrected by Salter osteotomy. All hips were congruently dysplastic according to the distance between the centres of the femoral head and the acetabulum (Klaue et al., classification). Groups were homologous considering mean age (14.5 years), follow-up period (8.5 years), presence of preoperative pain, Trendelenburg sign, and degenerative changes. Assessment for pain and Trendelenburg sign was made at follow-up. Radiological measurement was made of the central-edge angle of Wiberg (CE), acetabular angle of Sharp (AAS), and the femoral head coverage index of Heyman and Herndon (FHC). Progression of degenerative changes was analysed according to the criteria of Kellgren and Lawrence. At follow-up in the Chiari group, presence of pain was reduced from 54% to 6.6%, and from 35% to 12% in the Salter group. The presence of Trendelenburg sign was reduced 3% in the Chiari group and remained the same in the Salter group. At control, mean values of radiological parameters were normal in both groups (Salter: CE-27.8°, AIS-36.8°, ING-82.8%; Chiari: CE-36.8°; AIS-39.7°; ING-90.8%). Individual analysis showed 16% of dysplastic hips in the Salter group, and none in the Chiari group. Only one hip (4%) had grade 1 arthrosis after Salter osteotomy. There were five grade 1 hips (17%) in the Chiari group and one (3%) grade 2 arthrotic hip. At follow-up (mean 8.5 years) greater reduction of pain was found in the Chiari group than in the Salter group, but the presence of Trendelenburg sign remained almost unchanged in both groups. There was normalisation of the mean values of radiological parameters in both groups, but the Salter osteotomy was unable to correct dysplasia in 16% of the adolescent hips. Progression of degenerative changes was more rapid in the Chiari group

The transiliac method of leg lengthening uses a modification of Salter's innominate osteotomy. The bone graft increases the length of the hemipelvis distal to the sacro-iliac joint. Leg-length inequality in 23 patients was treated by this method with an average gain in length of 2.8 cm (2.0 to 3.5). Apart from one residual femoral nerve palsy there were no notable complications. The facility to redirect the acetabulum allowed by the technique, may be useful in cases of potential hip instability or acetabular dysplasia

We reviewed the medical records of 115 patients with 130 hips with developmental dysplasia with complete dislocation in the absence of a neuromuscular disorder, spontaneous reduction with a Pavlik harness, and a minimum of 14 years’ follow-up. The mean age at the time of harness application was 4.8 months (1 to 12) and the mean time spent in the harness was 6.1 months (3 to 12). A total of 108 hips (83.1%) were treated with the harness alone and supplementary surgery for residual acetabular dysplasia, as defined by an acetabular index > 30°, was performed in 22 hips (16.9%).

An overall satisfactory outcome (Severin grade I or II) was achieved in 119 hips (91.5%) at a mean follow-up of 16 years (14 to 32) with a follow-up rate of 75%. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head was noted in 16 hips (12.3%), seven of which (44%) underwent supplementary surgery and nine (56%) of which were classified as satisfactory. The acetabular index was the most reliable predictor of residual acetabular dysplasia.

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between Salter’s criteria and Kalamchi’s classification of avascular necrosis in patients treated for developmental dysphasia of the hip (DDH).

In late developmental dysplasia of the hip in childhood, the deformed dysplastic acetabulum is malaligned and has lost its shape due to pressure from the subluxed femoral head. The outer part of the acetabulum involves the upper part of the original acetabulum, thereby giving a bipartite appearance. A clear edge separates the outer from inner part which represents the lower part of the original acetabulum and has no direct contact with the femoral head.

Combined pelvic osteotomy (CPO) using a Lance acetabuloplasty with either a Salter or a Pemberton procedure restores the original shape and realigns the acetabulum. A total of 20 children (22 hips), with a mean age of 46 months (28 to 94) at primary operation underwent CPO with follow-up for between 12 and 132 months.

In each case concentric stable reduction with good acetabular cover was achieved and maintained throughout the period of follow-up.

We treated 15 hips (15 patients) with developmental dysplasia by a single-stage combination of open reduction through a medial approach and innominate osteotomy. The mean age of the patients at the time of operation was 20 months (13 to 30). The mean follow-up period was 9.6 years (4 to 14).

At the final follow-up, 14 hips were assessed clinically as excellent and one hip as good. Radiologically, ten hips were rated as class I, four as class II and one as class III according to the criteria of Severin. No avascular necrosis was seen. No patient required subsequent surgery. Our results indicate that satisfactory results can be obtained with the single-stage combination of open reduction by the medial approach and innominate osteotomy for developmental dysplasia of the hip in a selected group of children older than 12 months. To our knowledge, no similar combined technique has been previously reported.

We report the long-term results of 51 pelvic osteotomies in 43 patients with a mean follow-up of 15 years (13 to 20). The mean age of the patients was 28 years (14 to 46). At review three patients were lost to follow-up, and six had received a total hip arthroplasty. Of 48 hips, 42 (88%) were preserved, with good to excellent clinical results in 27 (64%). Pre-operatively, 41 (80%) of the treated hips had shown no sign of osteoarthritis. Thirty-one (65%) hips showed no progression of osteoarthritis after follow-up for 15 years. Significant negative factors for good long-term results were the presence of osteoarthritic changes and a fair or poor clinical score pre-operatively. Pelvic reorientation osteotomy for symptomatic hip dysplasia can give satisfactory and reproducible long-term clinical results.

The term developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) describes a spectrum of disorders that results in abnormal development of the hip joint. If not treated successfully in childhood, these patients may go on to develop hip symptoms and/or secondary osteoarthritis in adulthood. In this review we describe the altered anatomy encountered in adults with DDH along with the management options, and the challenges associated with hip arthroscopy, osteotomies and arthroplasty for the treatment of DDH in young adults.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:732–7.