Out of a total of 91 patients with traumatic posterior dislocation of the hip treated between 1936 and 1974 in the Mansfield area, 81 patients were reviewed. The average follow-up period was 12.5 years, although there was a large number of cases with a follow-up of more than 15 years and a smaller number with a follow-up of 30 years. The overall results were surprisingly poor despite early reduction of the dislocation in the majority of cases. We found that 15 years after simple dislocation 24 per cent of the cases had a poor result by both clinical and radiological criteria, but in the more severe grades of initial injury the results became worse, with 73.3 per cent of the patients graded as fair and poor, and only 26.7 per cent graded excellent or good

1. In unreduced congenital dislocation of the hip in adults, causing severe symptoms, it seems that there is a place for a calculated abduction type of femoral osteotomy, which should "defunction" a painful false joint. Care should be taken to avoid excessive angulation, which may lead to painful symptoms from contact of the osteotomy apex to the area of the true acetabulum. Genu valgum and lateral rotation deformity are complications, as is failure of union at the osteotomy site. 2. A series of eleven hips in seven patients is reported, in which such an abduction type of osteotomy has been done. Six of these hips have been highly satisfactory. Three have required subsequent operations to correct deformity. Only one has ended up with arthrodesis. In three, results have been only fair. The use of a reversed nail-plate to secure internal fixation is described

Between 1956 1999, 132 601 living children were born in and Malmö, and screened for neonatal instability of the hip. All late diagnosed patients have been followed and re-examined clinically and radiologically. During the first years of screening, less than five per 1000 living newborn infants were treated. This figure increased to 35 per 1000 in 1980, but later diminished again to about six per 1000 annually after 1990. The number of referred cases decreased from 45 per 1000 in 1980 to between 10 to 15 per 1000 from 1990. During the period of high rates of referral and treatment a larger number of paediatricians were involved in the screening procedure than during the periods with low rates of referral and treatment. Altogether 21 patients (0.16 per 1000) with developmental dislocation of the hip were diagnosed late, after one week. At follow-up, 18 were free from symptoms and 15 considered to be radiologically normal

Over the 10-year period 1969 to 1978, 271 consecutive cases of congenital dislocation of the hip were diagnosed at birth. Standard anteroposterior radiographs of the pelvis were obtained routinely and were analysed retrospectively. The medial gap, a measure of the separation between the proximal femur and the pelvic wall, was found to be significantly increased in cases with unilateral or bilateral dislocation when compared to normal. A medial greater than five millimetres is indicative of femoral head displacement and is of value where the clinical diagnosis is uncertain. The rate of missed dislocation at birth was 0.6 cases per thousand. Treatment with the Malmo splint was the normal routine. The Pavlik harness was applied if splintage was poorly tolerated by the infant, or in the rare instance of limited hip abduction. Failure to maintain reduction by splintage occurred in 3.3 per cent. The incidence of pressure deformities of the femoral head was 2.95 per cent and there was a residual deformity in later childhood of 1.1 per cent. It is presumed that this lesion can be attributed to the effect of splintage and it was notably avoided in the later period of the review when greater mobility of the abducted hips was encouraged

Arthroplasty, with normal or nearly normal reposition, is possible in most old congenital dislocations of the hip in young adults. Reposition is possible even in very high dislocation, but it is difficult or impossible in aged patients and when arthritic changes have taken place. The reduction equalises the length of the extremities in unilateral cases, but makes operation on both sides necessary in bilateral cases. Post-operative complications may be largely avoided by a good technique and careful post-operative treatment. Stability is good, and consequently the limp is generally reduced. Mobility is as a rule sufficient, though often less than before operation when the hip was normally or excessively mobile. Pain is very often relieved or greatly reduced, but walking is generally limited. Even if the radiographic appearance of the hip is almost normal, the functional result may be imperfect. This assessment is probably pessimistic, for two reasons: first, patients operated on are still improving; second, the improved technique of the later operations should give better results. Nevertheless, arthroplasty with reduction should be proposed to patients only suffering severe functional disability

Objectives. There are several reports clarifying successful results following open reduction using Ludloff’s medial approach for congenital (CDH) or developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH). This study aimed to reveal the long-term post-operative course until the period of hip-joint maturity after the conventional surgical treatments. Methods. A long-term follow-up beyond the age of hip-joint maturity was performed for 115 hips in 103 patients who underwent open reduction using Ludloff’s medial approach in our hospital. The mean age at surgery was 8.5 months (2 to 26) and the mean follow-up was 20.3 years (15 to 28). The radiological condition at full growth of the hip joint was evaluated by Severin’s classification. Results. All 115 hips successfully attained reduction after surgery; however, 74 hips (64.3%) required corrective surgery at a mean age of 2.6 years (one to six). According to Severin’s classification, 69 hips (60.0%) were classified as group I or II, which were considered to represent acceptable results. A total of 39 hips (33.9%) were group III and the remaining seven hips (6.1%) group IV. As to re-operation, 20 of 21 patients who underwent surgical reduction after 12 months of age required additional corrective surgeries during the growth period as the hip joint tended to subluxate gradually. Conclusion. Open reduction using Ludloff’s medial approach accomplished successful joint reduction for persistent CDH or DDH, but this surgical treatment was only appropriate before the ambulating stage. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2014;3:1–6

The factors involved in the mechanism leading to traumatic posterior dislocation of the hip are examined. In 47 adult patients who had previously suffered such a dislocation, ultrasound scans were used to measure femoral anteversion on both the affected and the uninjured side. In 36 normal adult volunteers, used as controls, similar measurements were made. Femoral anteversion on both the injured and uninjured side was significantly reduced in the patients compared with the volunteers. These findings are discussed in the light of previous work which indicates that medial rotation is a factor in the mechanism of posterior dislocation of the hip. It is suggested that reduced anteversion acts like medial rotation to make the hip more susceptible to posterior dislocation, and that the less the anteversion the more likely is the injury to be a dislocation rather than a fracture-dislocation. It is concluded that patients who suffer such dislocated hips belong at one extreme of the normal population, having either reduced femoral anteversion or even retroversion, and that this anatomical feature selects towards hip dislocation rather than to injury of the femoral shaft, knee or tibia during the appropriate type of accident

The efficacy of traction before an attempted closed reduction for patients with developmental dislocation of the hip remains controversial. We treated 55 children (62 dislocations of the hip) by preliminary, prolonged traction for a mean of eight weeks. All were followed up for at least two years in order to observe the development of any avascular changes within the femoral head. Of the 55 children, 27 (31 dislocations) were followed up until they were over six years of age. Fifty-seven of the 62 hips (92%) showed a successful closed reduction. Only one had radiological evidence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Of the 31 hips which were followed up to over six years of age, 15 (48%) showed residual subluxation. Our method of prolonged preliminary traction leads to a high rate of successful closed reduction, a low incidence of avascular necrosis and a reduced need for secondary operations

Of a consecutive series of 117 one-year-old infants with 130 established dislocations of the hip, 11% failed to respond to primary surgical treatment. Genetic and iatrogenic factors accounted for half the failures. There were no obvious causes in the remainder, though a few had the superficial stigmata of spinal dysraphism, and by two years of age, most of the group had developed a lateral rotation posture of the affected leg associated with a relatively smaller foot on that side. Radiologically, the femoral head had drifted and rotated laterally out of the surgically deepened acetabulum, causing persistent subluxation. Although there was no clinical evidence of sensory or motor denervation, sensory spinal evoked potential tests revealed the presence of neurological deficits in the majority of patients in this group

To determine the natural history of dislocation of the hip in cerebral palsy, and to evolve methods to predict dislocation, the notes and radiographs of 462 patients with cerebral palsy were reviewed. Dislocation occurred in 10% of patients by progressive migration and subluxation of the proximal femur in the presence of acetabular dysplasia. Statistical analysis identified the radiographic features that helped to predict dislocation. Measurement of acetabular index, by a method that allows for rotation of the acetabulum, was the most powerful single predictor. Measurement of this index at two and four years of age could identify patients who would dislocate unless effective treatment was undertaken, those at risk of dislocation only if scoliosis developed, and those who would not dislocate. On the basis of this method of screening for dislocation, a logical system of surgical prophylaxis is proposed

1. Dislocation and subluxation of the hip has been produced in young rats by application of splints reaching from the hip to the foot, bringing the hip into extension. 2. Progressive acetabular dysplasia and anatomical abnormalities of the head and neck of the femur occurred. 3. Results of the experiments suggest that post-natal extension of the hip is of importance in the pathogenesis of congenital dislocation of the hip in man

Computerised tomography is useful in the diagnosis of abnormalities of the hip in children, particularly in assessing the size and shape of the acetabulum, the position and congruity of the femoral head relative to the acetabulum, and the degree of femoral anteversion or retroversion. It is most useful when limited hip movement and previous operations preclude adequate clinical examination and assessment by routine radiographic techniques. It is not recommended for routine use in screening congenital dislocation of the hip or in diagnosis or follow-up of Perthes' disease or slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Three patients were reviewed seven, eight and fourteen years after delayed open reduction of traumatic posterior dislocation of the hip. The delay between injury and operation varied from twenty-eight to ninety-three days. At the time of review symptoms were minimal or absent, and in all cases the injured hip was clinically normal. Radiological examination showed loss of articular cartilage in one hip and trabecular changes in the bone of all three. On the basis of these three results the traditional pessimism about prognosis in such cases may not be justified

This paper reports the results of screening 53033 infants for congenital dislocation of the hip between 1970 and 1979, and compares them with the results of a similar screening programme between 1960 to 1969. The number of dislocations missed at neonatal examination is unaltered at 0.11 per cent of live births. Operative treatment was needed in a further 0.07 per cent of the recent series even though the dislocations had been diagnosed within 24 hours of birth. The reasons for the failure of neonatal screening are discussed, and suggestions are made which will improve the situation

We report the preliminary results of a continuing prospective evaluation of a screening programme for congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) which uses ultrasound imaging to provide delayed selective screening to complement neonatal clinical screening. Of 26,952 births in the Southampton district, 1894 infants were referred for secondary screening because of a clinical abnormality or the presence of a predetermined risk category for CDH. Pavlik harness treatment was required for only 118 infants, giving a treatment rate of 4.4 per 1000 births. Of those referred with clinical instability, 35% did not require treatment. Dislocation or subluxation was detected in 17 of 643 infants referred only because they fell within one of three risk categories: breech presentation, foot deformity and family history. All 17 had normal clinical examinations and cases were discovered in each category. Six children presented with CDH after 12 weeks of age, giving a late presentation rate of 0.22 per 1000 births. All had normal clinical examinations within 24 hours of birth and none was in a risk category. Surgery has been required in ten children, giving a surgical treatment rate of 0.37 per 1000 births. We conclude that, in Southampton, delayed selective secondary screening with ultrasound is more effective than clinical screening alone. It targets treatment to those infants who need it, and reveals a number of dislocated and subluxed hips that would otherwise be missed

We treated 120 children between the ages of 12 and 31 months with 137 developmental dislocations of the hip and reviewed them at a mean follow-up of 14 years. We had used two-directional arthrography of all hips before reduction to evaluate the anterior, superior, and posterior portions of the limbus. Of the 137 hips, 64 had no interposed limbus in the AP view of the arthrogram, but 45 of these had an interposed anterior or posterior portion of the limbus. The hips with good stability and no interposed limbus in either AP or lateral arthrograms had excellent results by closed methods; in the other cases the results were less satisfactory. Our findings suggest that hips suitable for management by closed reduction can be identified by two-directional arthrography. Hips shown to have an interposed limbus are best managed by open reduction

Routine ultrasound evaluation of neonates and young infants for congenital dislocation of the hip has been recommended. We have used the methods of decision analysis to determine whether every neonate should be examined by ultrasound or just those at increased risk. We have also studied the reliability and accuracy of ultrasound in following infants during observation and treatment, using published data. We find that ultrasound is not the preferred strategy for the screening of neonates, and that its role in evaluating high-risk patients depends on the point of view. For an individual, when third parties are bearing the cost, ultrasound is useful. For society as a whole, the routine ultrasound evaluation of the high-risk patient is not advantageous. For follow-up, ultrasound using the methods of Graf has a low reliability and there are no adequate data for methods using dynamic assessment

A prospective neonatal screening programme for congenital dislocation of the hip is reported. This covered over 20,000 live births including all the babies born in one area, with a virtually complete follow-up. All babies were examined within the first seven days of life and all hips which were dislocated or unstable after four days (1.6%) were splinted. Only two screened cases were "missed" and subsequently detected at 15 and 18 months. No later cases were discovered, and patients between 10 and 20 years of age had apparently remained asymptomatic. The detailed results show that neonatal screening is effective in detecting and preventing a crippling disorder in otherwise normal people. The examination, though brief, is difficult to perform well; it is considered that failure of the method lies with the examiner and not with the tests

We reviewed 33 patients (35 hips) after open reduction of congenital dislocation of the hip using Ludloff’s medial approach. The mean age at the time of operation was 14 months (5 to 29) and at the time of final follow-up 20.1 years (15 to 24) giving a mean duration of follow-up of 19.4 years (14 to 23). We evaluated the radiological results by the Severin classification and the extent of avascular necrosis using the criteria of Kalamchi. At the latest review 16 hips (45.7%) were in Severin groups I or II (acceptable results) and 19 (54.3%) in Severin groups III, IV or V (unacceptable results). There was evidence of avascular necrosis in 15 hips (42.9%). The radiological results began to become worse at about the age of ten years when type-II avascular changes presented. We conclude that Ludloff’s medial approach for open reduction is unsatisfactory for the treatment of congenital dislocation since about half of our patients required additional operations

The late results of early treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip in the von Rosen splint have been recorded in a follow-up study of 111 children with an average age of ten years (range eight to sixteen). The clinical diagnosis had been made within two days of birth and in most cases confirmed by radiological examination. Splintage was in all cases begun within the first few days and maintained for an average period of ten weeks. Two cases of failure of the initial treatment were encountered but had good final results. The follow-up study included a radiological examination in which were recorded the general configuration of the joint, the CE-angle described by Wiberg, the presence or absence of an os acetabuli and the roundness of the femoral head. The findings were compared with those in a control group of 222 normal children. All the treated hips developed normally except for a single case of minor dysplasia and a single case of slight enlargement of the femoral head and neck following appearances suggestive of avascular necrosis at the age of two years