Pelvic osteotomies in hip dysplasia: why, when and how?

Acetabular dysplasia is a significant problem in the spectrum of developmental dysplasia of hip. In a younger child, positioning the femoral head into the acetabulum helps in reciprocal remodeling of the acetabulum and correction of dysplasia. In an older child, the remodeling potential is limited and often the acetabular dysplasia needs surgical intervention in the form of a pelvic osteotomy. Thus, pelvic osteotomy forms an integral part of surgical management of hip dysplasia. The ultimate goal of these osteotomies is to preclude or postpone the development of osteoarthritis and add more years of life to the native hip. Pelvic osteotomies play a pivotal role in normalizing hip morphology. The choice of pelvic osteotomy depends on the age of a child, the type of dysplasia and the status of the tri-radiate cartilage. Several types of re-directional and reshaping pelvic osteotomies have been described in the literature to improve the stability and restore the anatomy and biomechanics of the dysplastic hip. This article attempts to review the current indications for various pelvic osteotomies with a brief description of their techniques along with the outcomes and complications published thus far. Besides, the guidelines to choose the right pelvic osteotomy are also provided.