Surgical reconstruction of hip subluxation and dislocation in children with cerebral palsy.

Objectives: This study aims to review the efficacy of femoral varus derotation osteotomy (VDRO) and Dega transiliac osteotomy in the treatment of hip subluxation and dislocation of cerebral palsy (CP) patients.

Patients and methods: This retrospective study included 25 hips of 22 CP patients (9 males, 13 females; mean age 8.7 years; range 4 to 18 years) who were operated due to hip subluxation and dislocation between July 2010 and December 2015. The mean follow-up period was 36.1±10.4 months (range, 20 to 65.6 months). Femoral VDRO and Dega transiliac osteotomy were performed in all cases. None of the patients were administered cast immobilization postoperatively. Patients were evaluated clinically with gross motor function classification system preoperatively and at the follow-up period. Acetabular index (AI), migration percentage (MP), and neck-shaft angle (NSA) were measured and documented by pelvic radiographs taken pre- and postoperatively and at the follow-up period. Intra- and postoperative complications were recorded.

Results: Gross motor function classification system scores improved in 16 patients. Mean AI was 33.2° preoperatively and 20.4° postoperatively. In preoperative period, MP and NSA were 72.7% and 160°, respectively, which improved to 24.3% and 130°, respectively, postoperatively. The postoperative improvement in AI, NSA and MP were statistically significant (p<0.001). We performed revision surgery due to implant failure in two patients and detected hip subluxation due to increased pelvic obliquity in one patient who had thoracolumbar scoliosis.

Conclusion: In CP patients, reconstruction of hip subluxation and dislocation with femoral VDRO and Dega transiliac osteotomy establish femoroacetabular congruency. Without any cast immobilization, early physical therapy is encouraged for immediate recovery.