1. A small personal consecutive series of children with congenital dislocation or subluxation of the hip who came for treatment at the age of over three years has been reviewed. The children have been kept under review up to the age of ten years or more. 2. A number of late results are illustrated. They lead to the conclusion that open operation is indicated in all these cases and that acetabuloplasty will effectively provide stability in most, particularly when combined with osteotomy of the femur with adduction angulation and lateral rotation. 3. It is still too early to assess the value of pelvic osteotomy of the Salter (1961) or Chiari (1955) type. 4. Capsular arthroplasty appears from Trevor's (1960) considerable experience to have a valuable place in patients over six years old

The hip problems in 116 children with myelomeningocele are discussed. The management described stresses the importance of selection of the type of operation; major surgery is appropriate only for those children who benefit significantly, and this generally means only those with strong quadriceps muscles on both sides. Some children with acetabular dysplasia gain immediate stability if acetabuloplasty is combined with other hip operations. Children who lack strong quadriceps muscles are best served by simpler procedures, such as tendon excision, designed to rid them of fixed deformity and to prevent recurrent deformity. The operations described are performed whenever possible under one anaesthetic and are combined with any other limb operation that may be necessary. It is suggested that the aim in management is not the treatment of paralytic dislocation of the hip but the correction of fixed deformity so that the child can stand with a stable posture. Subluxation and dislocation are treated incidentally to procedures designed to prevent or correct fixed deformity

This investigation examined the validity of the hypothesis that the acetabulum in congenital dislocation of the hip will develop satisfactorily provided accurate congruous and concentric reduction is obtained as early as possible, and is maintained throughout growth. Seventy-two patients with eighty-five hips were studied. The children were more than one year old on admission and over ten years at the time of review. Acetabular development was assessed radiologically by measurement of the acetabular angle. Angles of less than 21 degrees were regarded as normal, and more than 21 degrees as indicating some failure of development. Satisfactory acetabular development occurred in 80 per cent (angles 24 degrees or below), and was unsatisfactory in 20 per cent (angles above 24 degrees). If three errors in management, namely failure to obtain congruity, failure to maintain congruity and ischaemic necrosis secondary to manipulative reductions, are excluded from the analysis, it is found that 95 per cent of acetabula develop satisfactorily. The outcome is largely independent of the age on admission up to four years old, and of bilateral involvement. It is concluded that acetabuloplasty should not be necessary if the patient is admitted under the age of four or congruity is obtained in the functional position under four and a half years

Aims

The most important complication of treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head, which can result in proximal femoral growth disturbances leading to pain, dysfunction, and eventually to early onset osteoarthritis. In this study, we aimed to identify morphological variants in hip joint development that are predictive of a poor outcome.

Aims

To compare changes in gait kinematics and walking speed 24 months after conventional (C-MLS) and minimally invasive (MI-MLS) multilevel surgery for children with diplegic cerebral palsy (CP).

1. The results of treatment of 134 patients with congenital dislocation of 167 hips are reviewed. 2. Late diagnosis is still a major problem. 3. Subluxations rarely give rise to poor results, but in dislocations first treated over the age of five years there is a one-in-three risk of failure. 4. Manipulative reduction is successful less often than reduction on a frame and carries a higher risk of avascular necrosis. 5. Closed reduction on a frame was satisfactory in 58 per cent of patients under the age of three years, and can succeed up to the age of five. 6. Open reduction was required in 20 per cent of cases under the age of three, and can be used successfully up to the age of six. 7. Seven anatomical barriers to closed reduction have been recognised and two or more are commonly found in one hip when open reduction is performed. 8. The acetabular roof may fail to develop after reduction, especially if this is delayed. A C.E. angle of under 20 degrees does not necessarily forebode this, unless measured on an arthrograph. Sclerosis of a sloping acetabular roof is an indication for operation. Acetabuloplasty is the proper operation for a sloping acetabulum and can be done successfully up to the age of twelve. Over this age, a shelf operation should be performed; this is appropriate also in younger patients in whom the curvature of the acetabulum is normal but does not extend far enough laterally. These operations were required in 38 per cent of hips treated in patients under the age of three, and in 64 per cent over this age. There is a one-in-three risk of avascular necrosis when acetabular reconstruction is done in patients under three. 9. Anteversion, if excessive, should be corrected by subtrochanteric osteotomy, and any valgus of the femoral neck should be corrected simultaneously. 10. Unilateral dislocations in patients over the age of six are best treated by Colonna's operation. In our few bilateral cases over this age our results have been disappointing. 11. Avascular necrosis is less common but more serious when it occurs over the age of three. Manipulative reduction and the use of frog-leg plasters are two avoidable factors which appear to increase its incidence. The more serious degrees are accompanied by stiffness of the hip, and when this sign is present weight bearing should be avoided. 12. Prolonged, though rarely permanent, limitation of movement occurs in some 10 per cent of cases. In a few, operative correction was required

Aims

When the present study was initiated, we changed the treatment for late-detected developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH) from several weeks of skin traction to markedly shorter traction time. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate this change, with special emphasis on the rate of stable closed reduction according to patient age, the development of the acetabulum, and the outcome at skeletal maturity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of the osseous acetabular index (OAI) and cartilaginous acetabular index (CAI) using MRI. The OAI and CAI were measured on the coronal MR images of the hip in 81 children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), with a mean age of 19.6 months (3 to 70), and 241 normal control children with a mean age of 5.1 years (1 month to 12.5 years). Additionally the developmental patterns of the OAI and CAI in normal children were determined by age-based cross-sectional analysis.

Unlike the OAI, the normal CAI decreased rapidly from a mean of 10.17° (sd 1.60) to a mean of 8.25° (sd 1.90) within the first two years of life, and then remained constant at a mean of 8.04° (sd 1.65) until adolescence. Although no difference in OAI was found between the uninvolved hips in children with unilateral DDH and normal hips (p = 0.639), the CAI was significantly different between them both (p < 0.001). The normal CAI has fully formed at birth, and is maintained constantly throughout childhood. The CAI in the unaffected hips in children with unilateral DDH is also mildly dysplastic.

Avascular necrosis is a serious complication of slipped capital femoral epiphysis and is difficult to treat. The reported incidence varies from 3% to 47% of patients. The aims of treatment are to maintain the range of movement of the hip and to prevent collapse of the femoral head. At present there are no clear guidelines for the management of this condition and treatment can be difficult and unrewarding.

We have used examination under anaesthesia and dynamic arthrography to investigate avascular necrosis and to determine the appropriate method of treatment. We present 20 consecutive cases of avascular necrosis in patients presenting with slipped capital femoral epiphysis and describe the results of treatment with a mean follow-up of over eight years (71 to 121 months). In patients who were suitable for joint preservation (14), we report a ten-year survivorship of the hip joint of 75% and a mean Harris hip score of 82 (44 to 98).

Difficulties posed in managing developmental dysplasia of the hip diagnosed late include a high-placed femoral head, contracted soft tissues and a dysplastic acetabulum. A combination of open reduction with femoral shortening of untreated congenital dislocations is a well-established practice. Femoral shortening prevents excessive pressure on the located femoral head which can cause avascular necrosis. Instability due to a coexisting dysplastic shallow acetabulum is common, and so a pelvic osteotomy is performed to achieve a stable and concentric hip reduction. We retrospectively reviewed 15 patients (18 hips) presenting with developmental dysplasia of the hip aged four years and above who were treated by a one-stage combined procedure performed by the senior author. The mean age at operation was five years and nine months (4 years to 11 years). The mean follow-up was six years ten months (2 years and 8 months to 8 years and 8 months). All patients were followed up clinically and radiologically in accordance with McKay’s criteria and the modified Severin classification. According to the McKay criteria, 12 hips were rated excellent and six were good. All but one had a full range of movement. Eight had a limb-length discrepancy of about 1 cm. All were Trendelenburg negative. The modified Severin classification demonstrated four hips of grade IA, six of grade IB, and eight of grade II. One patient had avascular necrosis and one an early subluxation requiring revision.

One-stage correction of congenital dislocation of the hip in an older child is a safe and effective treatment with good results in the short to medium term.

Aims

Our aim was to assess the effectiveness of a protocol involving a standardised closed reduction for the treatment of children with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in maintaining reduction and to report the mid-term results.

The results of a functional, clinical and radiological study of 30 children (60 hips) with whole-body cerebral palsy were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 10.2 years (9.5 to 11). Correction of windsweep deformity of the hips was performed by bilateral simultaneous combined soft-tissue and bony surgery at a mean age of 7.7 years (3.1 to 12.2).

We were able to recall 22 patients; five had died of unrelated causes and three were lost to follow-up. Evaluation involved interviews with patients/carers and clinical and radiological examination.

The gross motor functional classification system was used to assess overall motor function and showed improvement in seven patients. Of the 12 patients thought to have pain pre-operatively, only one had pain post-operatively. Improved handling was reported in 18 of 22 patients (82%). Those with handling problems were attributed by the carers to growth of the patients. All patients/carers considered the procedure worthwhile. The range of hip movements improved, and the mean windsweep index improved from 50 pre-operatively to 36 at follow-up.

The migration percentage and centre-edge angle were assessed on plain radiographs. Radiological containment improved, the mean migration percentage improved from 50 pre-operatively to 20 at follow-up and the mean centre-edge angle improved from −5° to 29°.

No statistical difference was noted between the three-year and ten-year follow-up results, indicating that the improvements in clinical and radiological outcome had been maintained.

This study compares the initial outcomes of minimally invasive techniques for single-event multi-level surgery with conventional single-event multi-level surgery. The minimally invasive techniques included derotation osteotomies using closed corticotomy and fixation with titanium elastic nails and percutaneous lengthening of muscles where possible. A prospective cohort study of two matched groups was undertaken. Ten children with diplegic cerebral palsy with a mean age of ten years six months (7.11 to 13.9) had multi-level minimally invasive surgery and were matched for ambulatory level and compared with ten children with a mean age of 11 years four months (7.9 to 14.4) who had conventional single-event multi-level surgery. Gait kinematics, the Gillette Gait Index, isometric muscle strength and gross motor function were assessed before and 12 months after operation.

The minimally invasive group had significantly reduced operation time and blood loss with a significantly improved time to mobilisation. There were no complications intra-operatively or during hospitalisation in either group. There was significant improvement in gait kinematics and the Gillette Gait Index in both groups with no difference between them. There was a trend to improved muscle strength in the multi-level group. There was no significant difference in gross motor function between the groups.

We consider that minimally invasive single-event multi-level surgery can be achieved safely and effectively with significant advantages over conventional techniques in children with diplegic cerebral palsy.

Objective

Hip arthroscopy in the setting of hip dysplasia is controversial in the orthopaedic community, as the outcome literature has been variable and inconclusive. We hypothesise that outcomes of hip arthroscopy may be diminished in the setting of hip dysplasia, but outcomes may be acceptable in milder or borderline cases of hip dysplasia.

The benefit of arthroscopy of the hip in the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in terms of quality of life (QoL) has not been reported. We prospectively collected data on 612 patients (257 women (42%) and 355 men (58%)) with a mean age at the time of surgery of 36.7 years (14 to 75) who underwent arthroscopy of the hip for FAI under the care of a single surgeon. The minimum follow-up was one year (mean 3.2 years (1 to 7)). The responses to the modified Harris hip score were translated using the Rosser Index Matrix in order to provide a QoL score. The mean QoL score increased from 0.946 (-1.486 to 0.995) to 0.974 (0.7 to 1) at one year after surgery (p < 0.001). The mean QoL score in men was significantly higher than in women, both before and one year after surgery (both p < 0.001). However, the mean change in the QoL score was not statistically different between men and women (0.02 (-0.21 to 0.27) and 0.04 (-0.16 to 0.87), respectively; p = 0.12). Linear regression analysis revealed that the significant predictors of a change in QoL score were pre-operative QoL score (p < 0.001) and gender (p = 0.04). The lower the pre-operative score, the higher the gain in QoL post-operatively (ρ = -0.66; p < 0.001). One year after surgery the QoL scores in the 612 patients had improved in 469 (76.6%), remained unchanged in 88 (14.4%) and had deteriorated in 55 (9.0%).

The purpose of this study was to determine patient-reported outcomes of patients with mild to moderate developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) undergoing arthroscopy of the hip in the treatment of chondrolabral pathology. A total of 28 patients with a centre-edge angle between 15° and 19° were identified from an institutional database. Their mean age was 34 years (18 to 53), with 12 female and 16 male patients. All underwent labral treatment and concomitant correction of FAI. There were nine reoperations, with two patients requiring revision arthroscopy, two requiring periacetabular osteotomy and five needing total hip arthroplasty.

Patients who required further major surgery were more likely to be older, male, and to have more severe DDH with a larger alpha angle and decreased joint space.

At a mean follow-up of 42 months (24 to 89), the mean modified Harris hip score improved from 59 (20 to 98) to 82 (45 to 100; p < 0.001). The mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score improved from 30 (1 to 61) to 16 (0 to 43; p < 0.001). Median patient satisfaction was 9.0/10 (1 to 10). Patients reported excellent improvement in function following arthroscopy of the hip.

This study shows that with proper patient selection, arthroscopy of the hip can be successful in the young patient with mild to moderate DDH and FAI.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:1316–21.

Successful management of late presenting hip dislocation in childhood is judged by the outcome not just at skeletal maturity but well beyond into adulthood and late middle age. This review considers different methods of treatment and looks critically at the handful of studies reporting long-term follow-up after successful reduction.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:729–33.