Acetabular Dysplasia Following Closed Reduction of Developmental Dislocation of the Hip

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of acetabular dysplasia following closed
reduction of developmental dislocation of the hip, particularly as it relates to the age at reduction and
the presence of the ossific nucleus. Thirty-five children with unilateral developmental dislocation of the
hip underwent closed reduction. Medical records were reviewed for gender, side, age at reduction, use
of Pavlik harness, prereduction traction, presence/absence of the ossific nucleus, and whether adductor
longus tenotomy was performed. Acetabular index was measured. The mean age at reduction was
10 months. The mean length of follow-up was 91 months. Following closed reduction, the incidence
of acetabular dysplasia was 69% (24 hips). No statistically significant relationship between acetabular
dysplasia and age at reduction or presence of the ossific nucleus was demonstrated. (Journal of
Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 14(3):122–124, 2005)
Key words: acetabular dysplasia, closed reduction, developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), ossific
nucleus