A Comparative Study of Salter Versus Pemberton Osteotomy in Open Reduction of Developmental Dysplastic Hips and Clinical Evaluation on Bhatti’s Functional Score System

Objective The study was aimed to compare the outcome of Salter’s and Pemberton’s osteotomy to achieve adequate acetabular coverage in the open reduction of developmental dysplastic hips (DDH). The functional outcome was evaluated as measured on Bhatti’s Functional Score System (BFSS). Patients and methods The study includes 60 children with 82 hips of developmental dysplasia in walking-age children. They were operated on for open reduction and Salter’s or Pemberton’s pelvic osteotomy to achieve concentric anatomical reduction with good anterolateral coverage of the femoral head. Patients for Salter’s and Pemberton's osteotomies were randomly selected. Preference was given to Pemberton’s osteotomy in cases with double/irregular acetabulum and in bilateral DDH. All patients were operated on by a single surgeon from January 2014 to December 2016 and were followed up till June 2020. The overall radiological outcome was assessed on Severin’s classification, comparing the pre and postoperative acetabular index (AI) and the clinical outcome on Bhatti’s Functional Score System. Results The overall functional behavior on Bhatti’s Functional Scoring revealed satisfactory outcome (excellent and good) in 73.17% (60/82) hips. On the radiological evaluation, 85.36% (70/82) hips achieved satisfactory development of hips (Severin Class IAB and IIAB) while 12.19% (10) hips developed a moderate deformity of the hip (Severin Class III; p>0.05). Comparing outcomes in both the Pemberton and Salter groups, the acetabular index significantly reduced after both procedures (p<0.05), however, the Pemberton group was more effective than the Salter group. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of Caput Femoris was noticed in 9.57% (8) hips, subluxations in 2.43% (2) hips, and impingement and stiffness in 12.19% (10) hips. Salter’s group had more numbers of AVN and subluxations as compared to the Pemberton group, whereas impingement and stiffness were more in Pemberton’s but none in the Salter group. Conclusion The hips with Pemberton’s acetabuloplasty exhibited better acetabular coverage and progressive development of hips as compared to Salter’s osteotomy group. Both groups, however, behaved equally on functional assessment with Bhatti’s Functional Score System. The risk of subluxation and AVN was found higher in Salter's group, and femoroacetabular impingement in Pemberton’s group. Pemberton’s osteotomy was the best option for a single-stage open reduction in bilateral DDH in terms of less risk of bleeding, good stability, better postoperative pain control, and a second surgery to remove transfixation K-wires.