CURE OF THE LIMP IN CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL DISLOCATION OF THE HIP AND ISCHEMIC NECROSIS - 15 CASES TREATED BY TROCHANTERIC TRANSFER AND CONTRALATERAL EPIPHYSIODESIS

Fifteen patients who limped and had early fatigue on walking caused by ischaemic necrosis after treatment for congenital dislocation of the hip had distal and lateral transfer of the greater trochanter. Nine of them in whom the predicted leg-length discrepancy was more than 3 cm also had epiphysiodesis of the contralateral leg. At skeletal maturity the limp was eliminated and walking distance was significantly improv ed in them all. In those who had epiphysiodesis the average leg-length discrepancy was 0.7 cm at maturity. Two of those not treated by epiph ysiodesis used a heel raise of 1.5 cm. In seven cases the two operatio ns were performed simultaneously without serious complications. This p rocedure is recommended at about the age of 12 years.