Bony hip reconstruction for displaced hips in patients with cerebral palsy: Is postoperative immobilization indicated?

Purpose: Decisions for postoperative immobilization after bony hip reconstructive surgery in cerebral palsy are controversial in current practice. The aim of this study was to check if choosing not to use any kind of postoperative immobilization is a safe practice.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a pediatric orthopedic tertiary referral center. The study included 148 patients (228 hips) with cerebral palsy, who had bony hip surgery. Medical records were reviewed for incidence of complications, methods of pain control, and length of hospital stay. Three radiographic measures (neck-shaft angle, Reimers migration index, and acetabular index) were performed on preoperative and postoperative X-rays. X-rays were also checked for mechanical failure of implant, recurrent dislocation/subluxation, and fractures in the first 6 months postoperatively.

Results: In total, 94 (64%) were male and 54 (36%) were female. Seventy-seven (52%) were Gross Motor Function Classification System V, mean age at surgery was 8.6 years (2.5-18.4 years). Length of hospital stay was 6.25 days (SD 4.64 days). Medical complications that may have prolonged hospital stay occurred in 41 patients (27.7%). Radiological measurements showed significant improvement postoperatively ( = 0.001). Seven patients (4.7%) had another surgery in first 6 months (three for recurrent dislocation/subluxation, three for implant failure, and one for ipsilateral femur fracture).

Conclusion: Avoiding postoperative immobilization following bony hip surgery in cerebral palsy is a safe practice and associated with reduced rate of medical and mechanical problems compared to the current literature. This approach should be utilized with optimal pain and tone management.