Aims

This pilot study aimed to evaluate prospectively the use of inlet radiographs of the hip as an alternative method of the assessment of reduction after the surgical treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

Aim. This study presents the early results of a novel procedure, both in timing and surgical technique, aimed to treat those cases of congenital hip dysplasia that present late or fail conservative treatment. Methods. 48 patients and 55 hips treated over the period from December 2004 to February 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. All were treated with adductor and psoas tenotomy, open reduction, capsulorrhaphy and acetabuloplasty by the senior author. Results. Thirty-five of the cases (72.92%) were late presentations whilst 13 (27.08%) cases represented failure of conservative treatment with Pavlik harness. According to the IHDI classification, there was 1 (1.82%) grade I, 9(16.36%) grade II, 13 (23.64%) grade III, and 32 (58.18%) grade IV. The age of the patients at surgery averaged 16.01 months and the mean follow-up was 31.07 months (10.13–84.20 months). The average pre-operative AI was 37.97 ° (range 23 to 49). AI fell steadily over time reaching an average of 24.7° (range 14.7° to 30°) at 22 months post-acetabuloplasty. One of the earliest cases had some residual lateralisation requiring a Shelf acetabuloplasty 4 years after the index procedure. There were no infections, nerve palsies or graft displacement in the series. Seven cases (12.73%) developed AVN graded II or over (five grade II, one grade III, and one grade IV). The incidence of AVN significantly associated with previous failed conservative treatment (p<0.05) and was not related to pre-operative IHDI classification or AI (p=0.42 and p=0.31 respectively). Conclusion. This one-stop procedure seems to be safe whilst providing reliable outcomes; igniting the remodelling process that results in a concentric and stable hip. However, pelvic anatomy is not distorted and hence, additional pelvic osteotomies may be utilised if needed