LATE RESULTS AFTER SUBTROCHANTERIC ANGULATION OSTEOTOMY IN YOUNG-PATIENTS

Young patients with painful congenital dislocation of the hips need su rgery if conservative treatment is unsuccessful. A total of 24 patient s after 28 subtrochanteric angulation osteotomies without resection of the femoral head were followed up (mean, 17 years) to evaluate long-t erm results. Most patients maintain improved function: 20 hips showed persistent gain of abduction, 14 patients showed improvement of gait, and 18 patients described less pain. The degree of angulation must equ al the inclination of the pelvic wall to influence hip stability as we ll as hip range of motion. Osseous reactions of support-seen in 10 hip s-are not proof of operative success. Angulation osteotomy does not ex clude later surgical procedures such as total hip replacement.