[Radiological evaluation of the hip joint after osteotomy of the innominate by the Salter method]

An evaluation of the treatment results of Salter osteotomy in 21 patients aged 3.7 years with unilateral congenital subluxation of the hip joint was made. After one-year-follow-up, the treatment result was excellent in all the cases. An analysis of the X-ray pictures revealed that the peripheral fragment of the osteotomized bone was displaced 4 mm laterally, acetabular roof inclination (acetabular index) decreased about 4 mm on the average. In consequence, the length of the acetabular roof increased about 11 mm. The authors think that Salter osteotomy in children aged over 3 years is recommended if the acetabular roof inclination angle/does not exceed 45 degrees; over this value and especially when the roof is short, Dega transiliac osteotomy should be performed.