Long-term Result of Operative Treatment for Congenital Dislocation of the Hips

The author has evaluated the long-term results of 42 patients (52 hip joints) who underwent various types of surgery for the congenital dislocation of the hips at our institution. Length of follow-up was between 5 and 21 years, average 12 years. The patients were classified into 3 groups according to the purpose and method of surggery. The following are the conclusions reached. Group A : Infant and young childish congenital dislocation of the hips 1) Surgical treatment for this group was rather satisfactory with good or fair results of 71% of cases. 2) Results of innominate osteotomy were better than femoral osteotomy's. 3) Shelf operathion for lower age patients was less effective. Group B : Obsolete congenital dislocation of the hips 1) Despite of our favorable expectation, the results of this group was unsatisfactory because only 27% marked over 90 points. 2) Although the clinical improvement was obtained in high average immediately after surgery, the aggravation was occurred in most of cases 10 to 20 years after surgery. 3) Results of shelf operation in primary acetabulum were better than those in secondary acetabulum as far as the clinical manifestation was concerned. Group C : Precoxarthrosis and coxarthrosis 1) Although the result of shelf operations for this group was satisfactory, the over all results was unsatisfactory because of obtaining good or fair results in 64%. 2) Shelf operation was relatively useful when well indicated.