Pemberton's acetabuloplasty for congenital dislocation or subluxation of the hip

The results obtained in a consecutive series of thirty-seven Pemberton operations for congenital dislocation or subluxation of the hip are reported. Over the period under review, 1967 to 1973, it was the only type of acetabuloplasty employed at Winford. Unless the mandatory concentric reduction could be obtained with ease, preliminary open reduction was favoured, especially in cases of primary care. Femoral rotation osteotomy was added for marked anteversion. The programme was designed to be complete inside fourteen weeks, and was so for eighteen hips. Secondary acetabuloplasty was performed on hips with instability or dislocation persisting despite previous treatment. The operations were performed from eighteen months to thirteen years of age. One initial failure required a repeat operation which was successful, but one severely dysplastic hip remained so. The average follow-up was six years.