[Single-stage bilateral Pemberton's pericapsular osteotomy in bilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip]

This study was designed to evaluate the results of single-stage bilateral Pemberton's pericapsular osteotomy with or without open reduction and to demonstrate its advantages over two separate consecutive interventions in bilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

This prospective study included 20 patients (14 girls, 6 boys; mean age 30 months; range 12 to 60 months) with bilateral DDH, who underwent single-stage bilateral Pemberton's pericapsular osteotomy with (14 patients, group A1) or without (6 patients, group A2) open reduction. Twenty patients (16 girls, 4 boys; mean age 24 months; range 13 to 47 months) with unilateral DDH, who underwent Pemberton's pericapsular osteotomy with (12 patients, group B1) or without (8 patients, group B2) open reduction were enrolled into the study as controls. Single- and two-stage procedures were compared with regard to improvement in the acetabular index, complications, mean duration of anesthesia, perioperative need for blood transfusion, length of hospital stay, initiation of walking, overall cost of antibiotic prophylaxis, and total hospital charge.

There were no significant differences between A1 and B1, A2 and B2 groups with respect to mean age, gender, pre- and postoperative acetabular indices, and recovery times. However, duration of anesthesia, length of hospital stay, cost of antibiotic prophylaxis, and total hospital charges differed significantly. The amount of blood transfusion differed significantly only between groups A1 and B1. The length of hospital stay and cost of antibiotic prophylaxis in group A2 was twice as much as that of group B2. Increases in other parameters ranged between 22% to 37%. No early or late complications were encountered.

Single-stage bilateral Pemberton's pericapsular osteotomy in patients with bilateral DDH seems to have significant advantages over two separate consecutive interventions. However, increased risks of bilateral osteotomies require that sufficiently equipped and experienced anesthesiologic and surgical teams be available.