The fate of the nonoperated hip in cerebral palsy

Thirty-six cerebral palsied patients who underwent a unilateral operative procedure for spastic hip subluxation or dislocation were reviewed for assessment of the effect on the nonoperated hip. Unilateral soft tissue procedures on patients less than 9 years of age had a definite untoward effect on the contralateral, nonoperated hip (progressive subluxation and development of a windswept pelvis deformity). The effect of unilateral bony procedures on the nonoperated hip was not statistically significant. Following unilateral surgery, nonambulators are at increased risk of demonstrating deterioration of the nonoperated hip in comparison to ambulators.