Fractures of the hip in children and adolescents

Long-term results of 52 fractures of the hip in 51 children and adolescents are discussed. A distinction was made between fractures in children (aged 1 to 11 years) and those in adolescents (aged 12 to 18 years). Irrespective of the type of fracture it was found that immediate operative treatment leads to the best results. In children as well as in adolescents the risk of avascular necrosis, premature closure of the epiphysis and non-union is less following immediate operative treatment than following delayed operative treatment or conservative treatment. The prognosis of these fractures depends on the amount of damage to the vascularization. Treatment of children consisted of open reduction and fixation with K-wires followed by postoperative immobilization in a hip-spica for 6 weeks. Adolescents were treated with three-flanged nails usually without postoperative plaster immobilization. In both children and adolescents internal fixation may also be carried out with screws, in which case these must not cross an open epiphyseal plate. In both groups a non-weight-bearing period of 6 to 12 months is advisable. The results in adolescents were definitely poorer than in children. Seemingly completely destroyed hips can reintegrate even to a nearly "restitutio ad integrum" state after a period of years.