The treatment of congenital hip dislocation between the ages of 1 and 3.

A total of 81 patients (103 hips) with a diagnosis of congenital hip dislocation were reviewed, who had been treated between one and three years of age. All of the patients were initially treated with adhesive band traction prior to non-surgical reduction, which was performed under general anesthesia using gentle reduction maneuvers followed by immobilization in plaster. Non-surgical reduction was performed in 69 hips (67%), surgical in the remaining 34 (33%). A total of 91 associated surgical procedures were performed for the treatment of residual subluxation. Average follow-up was 12 years (minimum 5, maximum 19). The clinical results of the non-surgical reductions were excellent in 75% of the cases. Radiographically, 48% are hips which have a normal aspect, while 42% have a moderate degree of residual dysplasia or deformity of the femoral epiphysis and of the acetabulum. Hips that were initially classified as grade III dislocations show fair results. Hips treated non-surgically included 11 cases of avascular necrosis (16%); recovery was adequate. Hips treated surgically included 14 cases of avascular necrosis (30%), which was more accentuated in those hips that had initially been treated elsewhere, and in those classified as grade III. The clinical and radiographic results obtained for the hips treated surgically demonstrate poor results in 17% of the cases (6 out of 34), as a consequence of types III and IV osteochondrosis. It may be concluded that in this age group congenital hip dislocation is best treated by non-surgical reduction, possibly followed by surgery of the femur and acetabulum. Surgical reduction was only indicated when conservative methods failed.