Habitual anterior dislocation of the hip in cerebral palsy: a case report

Habitual anterior dislocation of the hip joint is extremely rare. We believe this is the first case reported of a habitual anterior dislocation of the hip occurring in a child with cerebral palsy. The dislocation was painless, voluntary and used to occur every time the child would extend and externally rotate the limb. Operative intervention in the form of a varus derotation femoral osteotomy and anterior capsulorraphy was planned, but the caregivers of the patient were unwilling for the same. Hence, the patient was given an adduction and internal rotation brace and was counselled not to perform the activity needed to dislocate the hip. This case report calls attention to a unique problem previously not reported in cerebral palsy.