TRAUMATIC POSTERIOR DISLOCATION OF THE HIP IN CHILDREN:REPORT ON FIVE CASES

Objective: To evaluate a series of cases of traumatic posterior dislocations in children, with the treatment and results, and to review issues relating to the epidemiology, clinical and radiographic diagnosis, treatment, complications and prognosis of such cases. Methods: Five patients with traumatic hip dislocation, with a mean age of 4.6 ± 0.9 years and a follow-up period of 19.8 ± 7.0 months, were evaluated retrospectively. The time elapsed between dislocation and reduction, the type of treatment, the associated injuries and the subsequent complications were evaluated. Results: The initial treatment was closed reduction, which was performed on average 5.2 ± 3.6 hours after the initial trauma. All the patients underwent the reduction under anesthesia. The complementary treatment included plaster cast immobilization and traction. No need for additional surgery was observed and there were no long-term side effects. Conclusion: Traumatic dislocation of the hip should be treated quickly by means of closed reduction, with appropriate control over the reduction and rigorous observation in order to diagnose and treat late complications.