PRELIMINARY TRACTION IN THE TREATMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISLOCATION OFTHE HIP

The benefit of preliminary traction in the treatment of developmental dislocation of the hip has not been clearly demonstrated. We retrospec tively analyzed the results of traction treatment of 90 dislocated hip s in 72 patients. After a 3-week course of traction, patients underwen t attempted closed reduction. Fifty-two hips (58%) were managed succes sfully by closed reduction, whereas 38 hips (42%) required primary ope n reduction. Chi2 analysis revealed no significant difference in eithe r the rate of successful closed reduction or the incidence of avascula r necrosis compared to recently published series in which preliminary traction was not used. On the basis of presentation radiographs and ar thrograms, we were unable to identify a subgroup of patients that clea rly benefited from the use of traction in the treatment of development al dislocation of the hip.