The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine if open reduction, with pelvic and femoral osteotomy, for a dislocated hip in children with severe spastic quadriplegia alters the function or symptoms of the patient, and to determine radiographic factors that correlate with symptoms. Between 1989 and 1997 56 patients/hips were operated on. The validated Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) and a self-constructed questionnaire asking about pain, hygiene, sitting status, sitting tolerance, weight bearing for transfers, and ambulatory status were sent to all families. Radiographs were reviewed for changes in the centre edge angle (CE), acetabular index (AI), migration index (MI) and femoral head defect (FHD). 27 caregivers completed the questionnaires. Radiographs (pre-operative – latest follow-up) were available for 42 patients. 21 patients had both questionnaire and radiograph information. Logistic regressions were used to test whether the radiographic measures could predict each of the questionnaire outcomes which were grouped as ‘improved’ and ‘not improved’. The average age at surgery was 8.9 years (n=56: 1.8 – 16.5) for all patients, for patients with a completed questionnaire 9.4 years (n=27: 4.2–15.4). Time from surgery to follow-up was in average 5.5 years (1.8–9.5). All but 2 of the patients with completed questionnaire were nonambulatory (2 were functional ambulatory). As a group, the results of the PEDI did not significantly change following surgery. From the results of the second questionnaire: hygiene care improved for 11 patients, weight bearing for transfers improved for 7, sitting status improved for 10, and sitting tolerance improved for 18 patients. At follow-up, pain worsened in 2 patients, did not improve in 2 patients, and the remainder were pain free. The ability to provide hygiene care worsened for the 2 patients with worsening pain. Weight bearing for transfers and sitting status worsened in 3 patients, 2 of who were the patients with worsening pain, and the other had an unreduced dislocation of the opposite hip. Sitting tolerance worsened in 3 patients, 2 of who were the patients with worsening pain. Four patients who did not have femoral head defects prior to surgery developed them after surgery. Two of these four patients were the ones who developed worsening pain but had normal CE, AI and MI measures. Other radiographic measures of the hips did not correspond with function or symptoms. Eight patients had a femoral head defect prior to surgery and none were symptomatic at follow-up. Our assessment method shows that open reduction for the dislocated hip in children with severe cerebral palsy can result in a decrease in pain and a modest improvement in function. However, the postoperative development of a femoral head defect is associated with worse pain and poorer function. A pre-existing femoral head defect is not a contraindication to surgery.
