SURGERY FOR UNSTABLE HIPS IN CEREBRAL-PALSY

We studied 67 patients with 86 unstable hips, all of whom had total-bo dy-involvement cerebral palsy. Sixty-four operations were performed on 53 hips in 39 patients in a sequential radiographically controlled ma nner. Twenty-five operations were contralateral operations on a previo usly treated patient or revisions of a previous procedure. Soft-tissue release alone led to recurrence of dislocation or subluxation in many patients and has been abandoned. Combined pelvic and femoral osteotom y and soft-tissue release corrected the migration percentage and cente r-edge angle better than femoral osteotomy and soft-tissue release alo ne. Excision of the proximal femur was a useful salvage procedure if t he femoral head was eroded.