[Experience with acetabuloplasty according to Pemberton (author's transl)]

Following a brief description of the conventionally most well-known acetabuloplastic procedures for correcting hip dysplasia, the article gives details on acetabuloplasty as described in 1965 by Pemberton. Only few reports on experience collected with this method of operation have been published. The authors' own earlier evaluations and medium-term treatment results after 53 effected operations show that this procedure will mostly bring about a definite improvement of the acetabulum by reducing the acetabular inclination angle (AC angle) and correspondingly increasing the angle between the centre and the craniolateral corner of the acetabulum (CE angle). During the observation periods reported by the authors, an average reducing of the AC angle by 12 degrees was achieved, whereas the CE angle was increased during the same periods by an average of 17.5 degrees. Basic requirements for this operation are good centering of the head of the femur, which must be created, it necessary, via an open positioning of the hip joint or by intertrochanteral osteotomy; in addition, the Y-shaped piece at the botton of the acetabulum must be open, as will be seen from the roentgenogram.