There are many unanswered questions concerning the natural history of developmental dislocation of the hip. The assessment of impaired function in complete hip dislocation is very subjective. According to Wedge, however, 60 percent of hips seems to present significant problems. The remaining 40 percent gives no pain, but produces an abnormal gait with decreased agility, and important consideration in mordern society. Therefore pediatric orthopaedic surgeon should consider to improve the gait and hip function in the neglected D.D.H in elderly children. The following problem have been debated, for instance: 1) traction prior to open reduction 2) how much shorten the femur 3) what type of pelvic osteotomy should be performed? 4) importance of derotation and varus osteotomy of femur 5) to provide immediate stability of the hip, 6) postsurgery joint stiffness, and 7) avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Above problems are discussed through 38 cases which were above the age of 5 years. The results were as follow: 1) A femoral varus osteotomy provided the hip stability by containing the head in socket and femoral shortening effect. 2) The Preop traction provided the soft tissue release at surgery and decreased the incidence of AVN. 3) The acetabular remodelling was observed until the age of 13 years when concentric relocation of the head was achieved even after the age 8 years. 4) The pelvic osteotomy was not always required in those case of complete dislocation in which the femoral head could be deeply relocated in the acetabulum after femoral osteotomy.
Acetabulum ; Aged ; Child ; Dislocations ; Femur ; Gait ; Head ; Hip Dislocation ; Hip ; Humans ; Incidence ; Joints ; Natural History ; Necrosis ; Osteotomy ; Traction