gms | German Medical Science

Objectives: Closed reduction and subsequent spica-casting is the gold standard for treatment of unstable or dislocated developmental dysplastic hips (DDH). There is sparsity of data reporting on midterm results after treatment of DDH, especially on closed reduction

Methods: 31 consecutive patients with unstable or dislocated hips (n =36) that were treated by fluoroscopic guided closed reduction and spica casting were included and evaluated clinically and radiologically two and five years after treatment.

Results and conclusion: After two and five years there were no significant differences between healthy and successfully treated hips detectable regarding acetabular coverage (AC) angle, center edge angle and clinical stability of the hip. There was a significant difference at two-year follow-up between healthy hips and hips that needed to undergo secondary surgery (n=4; e.g. open reduction, acetabuloplasty) in AC angle (p < 0.001).

Closed reduction in DDH results in acceptable clinical and radiological results in the midterm follow-up. It remains unclear why some patients with matured hips after therapy show secondary deterioration and recurrence of dysplasia.