[Hip joint development after treatment the developmental dislocation with overhead traction]

Despite the fact that ultrasound of children's hips is widely used for screening, late diagnosed cases of developmental dislocation of the hip are still a common problem in the orthopaedic practice. The aim of the study is to review final clinical and radiological outcomes of treatment of DDH with overhead traction and closed reduction after skeletal growth. Clinical records and radiograms of 107 hips (81 children) were retrospectively reviewed. All of them were treated according to the same program: overhead traction (about 2 weeks), followed by closed reduction, modified Lorenz cast (2 months) and finally cast in Lange position (3 months). Average age of children was 14.2 months at the beginning of treatment and 20.7 years at last visit. Good and very good results were found in 80% of cases according to final radiological assessment of Severin and in 91% according functional classification of Harris. Avascular necrosis of femoral head according to Bucholz-Ogden classification system was identified in one third of patients. Functional results are better than radiological, but deteriorated with time especially in hips with residual dysplasia and AVN due to development of early, secondary degenerative changes.