[Traumatic luxation of the hip in children]

The authors report the long-term results of the non-surgical treatment of 15 cases of traumatic dislocation of the hip during the growth age, followed-up after an average of 14 years (5-26 years). There were 14 cases of posterior dislocation and 1 case of anterior dislocation (the latter complicated by ischemia due to compression of the common femoral artery), in patients aged from 3.5 to 15 years (average age 11 years). All of the cases were treated by non-surgical reduction under general anesthesia in an emergency situation, and a plaster cast which was worn for 30-55 days. At long-term follow-up the results were evaluated as follows good, with complete healing, in 67% of the cases; fair, with moderate, non-symptomatic radiographic arthritic changes, in 26%; poor in only 1 case (7%) which was complicated by necrosis of the femoral head. Post-traumatic arthrosis and cephalic necrosis were observed in patients aged more than 10 years, and where fracture was associated with the dislocation, indicating trauma of considerable intensity. The duration of immobilization in a plaster cast and no weight-bearing did not influence the results. Traumatic hip dislocation during the growth age has a better prognosis as compared to that occurring during adult age. Particularly favorable prognostic factors are age under 10 years and the absence of fractures associated with the dislocation.