Surgical treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip in children – A monocentric study about 414 hips

Introduction: No consensus exists about the open reduction of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH; age of surgery and the need for additional bone surgery). We report clinical and radiological outcomes of a large monocentric study. The objectives are to analyze outcomes and to give recommendations. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective review of 414 hips (301 patients) operated on for DDH between 2010 and 2018. The mean age at the time of surgery was 34.6 months (14–96 months). In all, 72 hips had open reduction (OR) alone, 130 had OR with femoral osteotomy, 37 had OR with pelvic osteotomy, and 175 hips OR was associated with femoral and pelvic osteotomy. The mean follow-up was 6.5 years (3–10 years). Clinical outcomes were evaluated according to Mckay’s classification. The acetabular index was measured, and Severin classification was used for radiological outcomes. Reduction failure and residual dysplasia were noted, and avascular necrosis of femoral head (AVN) was assessed according to Kalamchi and MacEwen classification. Results: At the last follow-up, 331 hips (80.2%) had good clinical results, and 319 (77%) had satisfactory radiological results. The AI measured on the last follow-up radiograph was ≤25° in 350 hips. AVN was noted in 83 hips (20%). Redislocation was founded in 53 hips (12%). Overall: 293 hips (72%) had stable reduction without AVN with good clinical and radiological outcomes. Discussion: Clinical outcomes are better and the risk of AVN decreases significantly when a femoral osteotomy is performed. There were better radiological results when pelvic osteotomy was performed. The rate of residual dysplasia was higher when pelvic osteotomy was not performed. We recommend a femoral shortening osteotomy for high dislocations (Tönnis 3 or 4) for children over 18 months and a pelvic osteotomy for children over 36 months or over 18 months with an acetabular index > 25°.