[Combined Salter-Pemberton pelvic osteotomy]

In simple pelvic osteotomy in childhood the aim is for better lateral roofing, a safe centering of the femoral head and tuning between the volumes of the acetabulum and the femoral head. By the combination of anterior modified Pemberton osteotomy with dorsal osteotomy according to Salter these objectives can be achieved.

Dysplasia of the acetabulum in patients between 2 years old and adolescence, subluxation and dislocation of the femoral head, also in neurological diseases as cerebral palsy and hypercontainment in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

Critically small pelvic bones in toddlers younger than 18 months, children with a delay in skeletal formation. In patients aged more than 15 years if the symphysis is too taut for an effectual pivoting of the acetabulum and the acetabulum has no potential for future maturing.

Surgery is carried out by making a skin incision by the iliac crest ending in the middle of the groin, the cartilaginous iliac apophysis is split and the periosteum is elevated from the medial and lateral wall of the ilium to the inner pelvic ring. A K-wire is used to mark the level and the center of the osteotomy and dorsal to the K-wire a straight osteotomy is performed with a Gigli saw and anteriorly an arc-shaped and tilted cut is made with a chisel. The distal iliac fragment is rotated widely outwards and forwards and a triangular bone graft is removed from the anterior part of the iliac crest. The graft is inserted into the opened up osteotomy, three K-wires are used to fix the desired position of the iliac fragments and the two halves of the iliac apophysis are sutured together.

After the operation uncooperative children receive a scotch cast for 4 weeks. Cooperative children are mobilized after 3 weeks of bed rest. Partial weight-bearing is allowed after 6 weeks and full weight-bearing after 8-10 weeks.

A total of 56 combined Salter-Pemberton pelvic osteotomies were performed in 49 patients from 1999 to 2008. The results of these studies demonstrate that this osteotomy is a safe and effective procedure which enables not only sufficient correction in classical dysplasia of the hip joint but also in high grade dislocation of the hip joint caused by cerebral palsy.