Congenital dislocation of the hip. Treatment in infancy to walking age

Early management of congenital dislocation of the hip has been necessary and has resulted in a high percentage of normal-appearing and functioning hips. The risk of complications and problems has been lessened. Further, the techniques employed are simpler and less demanding or difficult for patients, family, or physicians.     

The early diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip.

In 1964, a screening programme was commenced in South Australia to diagnose and treat congenital dislocation of the hip in the neonatal period. The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a statistical review of cases seen at the Queen Victoria Hospital during 1971 and 1972. Related factors, and the recommended method of treatment, are discussed, along with problems of early diagnosis and treatment of newborn children found to have unstable hips.     

Congenital abduction contracture with dislocation of the shoulder in children: report of two cases.

Isolated congenital contracture of the deltoid muscle in children is uncommon. There are no reports in the literature of such cases associated with anterior dislocations of the shoulder. Two young girls with deltoid contracture and associated dislocation of the shoulder are reported.     

Congenital dislocation of the hip. A re-appraisal of the upper age limit for treatment

Difficulties posed in managing developmental dysplasia of the hip diagnosed late include a high-placed femoral head, contracted soft tissues and a dysplastic acetabulum. A combination of open reduction with femoral shortening of untreated congenital dislocations is a well-established practice. Femoral shortening prevents excessive pressure on the located femoral head which can cause avascular necrosis. Instability due to a coexisting dysplastic shallow acetabulum is common, and so a pelvic osteotomy is performed to achieve a stable and concentric hip reduction. We retrospectively reviewed 15 patients (18 hips) presenting with developmental dysplasia of the hip aged four years and above who were treated by a one-stage combined procedure performed by the senior author. The mean age at operation was five years and nine months (4 years to 11 years). The mean follow-up was six years ten months (2 years and 8 months to 8 years and 8 months). All patients were followed up clinically and radiologically in accordance with McKay's criteria and the modified Severin classification. According to the McKay criteria, 12 hips were rated excellent and six were good. All but one had a full range of movement. Eight had a limb-length discrepancy of about 1 cm. All were Trendelenburg negative. The modified Severin classification demonstrated four hips of grade IA, six of grade IB, and eight of grade II. One patient had avascular necrosis and one an early subluxation requiring revision. One-stage correction of congenital dislocation of the hip in an older child is a safe and effective treatment with good results in the short to medium term.     

发育性髋关节脱位的早期手术治疗

[目的]总结12～18个月龄发育性髋关节脱位(developmental dislocation of the hip,DDH)患儿手术治疗的临床和影像学方面的结果,研究早期手术治疗的可行性。[方法]回顾性分析本院在2004～2006年年龄为12～18个月发育性髋关节脱位患儿采用手术治疗的59例72髋临床资料,其中男8例,女51例,左侧27例,右侧19例,双侧13例。手术方式:切开复位加Salter骨盆截骨53髋;切开复位加Pemberton骨盆截骨19髋。[结果]平均随访50个月,术后按改良的McKay标准进行临床评估;按Severin标准进行放射学评估;按Salter标准诊断有无股骨头缺血性坏死。SeverinX射线评分优良率为94.4%,McKay临床评估优良率为93%。按Salter标准有2髋(2.8%)发生股骨头缺血性坏死(avascular necrosis of the femoral head,AVN)。[结论]不必过分强调小年龄DDH患儿的保守治疗,放宽手术指征,早期手术治疗是可行的。     

Congenital hip dislocations diagnosed after walking age: results of treatment.

The results of treatment of 64 congenital hip dislocations, diagnosed after the children were of walking age, were assessed anatomically, using two criteria--general femoral head shape and the C.E. angle of Wiberg. Results were also related to age at diagnosis and treatment methods. Radiologically 62% of the hips had normal or good results, and of these, 82% were obtained when the diagnosis was made and treatment started before the age of 36 months. In this series no correlation existed between anatomical result and treatment method.     

Significance of inguinal folds for diagnosis of congenital dislocation of the hip in infants aged three to four months

We evaluated the usefulness of the appearance of asymmetrical inguinal folds in the frog leg position as a screening indicator for congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) in the hope that we might be able to decrease the frequency of radiographic examinations of 3-4-month-old infants. Abnormal inguinal folds were observed in 499 (23.8%) of the 2,111 patients examined at the Asahikawa Health Center, and these 499 included all patients with complete dislocation or subluxation. Abnormal inguinal folds were also present in all 29 previously untreated patients with complete dislocation and in 11 with subluxation seen in our department. Because limited passive hip abduction is less sensitive than abnormal inguinal folds, we recommend inguinal fold assessment as a useful adjunct to other screening methods for CDH in 3-4-month-old infants.     

Pitfalls of early diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip joint

The efficiency of the routines for early diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip joint (CDH) practiced in the 1960s in the city of G?teborg were reviewed. Between 1961 and 1970 there were 65,875 live births in G?teborg. Eighty-five percent of the estimated number of cases of CDH were diagnosed during the first month of life. Of the children "missed" at the primary screening on the maternity wards, 75% (15/20) were premature babies and/or had been delivered during weekends. In all, 475 newborn children were judged to have unstable hips (dislocated or dislocatable hips), corresponding to an incidence of 7.2 per thousand live births. In 19 children, abduction treatment with braces commenced during the first 10 days of life failed to prevent dislocation. Eighteen of these children were treated primarily with a Frejka pillow and one with a von Rosen splint. A history of CDH among relatives was obtained in 47% of these 19 children including four of five children who had developed pathological hips after supplementary treatment with a hip spica cast and/or surgery. Radiological examination at the age of 1-4 months was helpful in revealing failure of early abduction treatment to prevent dislocation, which in most cases was difficult to detect by clinical examination at this early age.     

Pitfalls of early diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip joint

Summary The efficiency of the routines for early diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip joint (CDH) practiced in the 1960s in the city of Göteborg were reviewed. Between 1961 and 1970 there were 65 875 live births in Göteborg. Eighty-five percent of the estimated number of cases of CDH were diagnosed during the first month of life. Of the children missed at the primary screening on the maternity wards, 75% (15/20) were premature babies and/or had been delivered during weekends. In all, 475 newborn children were judged to have unstable hips (dislocated or dislocatable hips), corresponding to an incidence of 7.2 per thousand live births. In 19 children, abduction treatment with braces commenced during the first 10 days of life failed to prevent dislocation. Eighteen of these children were treated primarily with a Frejka pillow and one with a von Rosen splint. A history of CDH among relatives was obtained in 47% of these 19 children including four of five children who had developed pathological hips after supplementary treatment with a hip spica cast and/or surgery. Radiological examination at the age of 1–4 months was helpful in revealing failure of early abduction treatment to prevent dislocation, which in most cases was difficult to detect by clinical examination at this early age.     

Comparison of results of two approaches to hip screening in infants.

We compared the success of the screening programmes for congenital dislocation of the hip in two hospitals in the same district, as applied to 68,861 live births over 11 years. Both used only clinical tests on new-born infants. Screening was less successful when the tests were done by junior paediatric physicians than by senior physiotherapists supervised by an orthopaedic surgeon. Clinical screening can be highly effective provided that all babies are screened at birth, and high-risk cases are followed up by a properly trained team with a well-designed protocol.     

Congenital dislocation of the hip: current concepts as a preliminary for diagnosis and treatment

Congenital hip dislocation has been regularly reviewed, in the wake of important progress made over the last thirty years, and more precisely in the field of clinical and ultrasonographic screening, as well as in early treatment. The search of a consensus on the best screening methods (who? how?) should start from one initial point: a thorough knowledge of anatomical, clinical, pathological and therapeutic definitions and concepts underlying this far-reaching question. This is the purpose of the present review of current ideas (from a historical perspective). The two authors, members of French Society for Paediatric Orthopaedics (SOFOP), have extensively researched this subject and contributed to the implementation of national “good practice”.     

Influence of the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip by the abduction brace on locomotor development in children

Purpose  

To assess the influence of treating developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) with the abduction brace on locomotor development in children.     

Normal ranges of hip motion in infants six weeks, three months and six months of age.

Flexion contracture, internal rotation and external rotation of the hip were reported in 40 infants at 6 weeks and 3 months and in an independent sample of 40 infants at 6 months of age. Population means and normal ranges of motion were determined for use in the evaluation of hip problems and their treatment. A mean hip flexion contracture of 19 degrees was present at 6 weeks of age, decreasing to 7 degrees by three months, but still persisting at 6 months suggesting that forceful extension of the hip in infants may be contraindicated. Hip flexion contracture decreased in every child from 6 weeks to three months. In all cases, external rotation was greater than internal rotation. Internal rotation greater than external rotation before the age of 6 months appears contrary to normal development. There was a significant correlation between the changes in hip flexion contracture and internal rotation from 6 weeks to 3 months. An interesting extension of this study would be a longitudinal follow-up of infants beyond 6 months of age to further define these developmental trends.