Prosthetic interposition arthroplasty for the palliative treatment of end-stage spastic hip disease in nonambulatory patients with cerebral palsy

We reviewed our experience in using a prosthetic arthroplasty for the treat ment of painful degenerative arthritis in 11 nonambulatory patients (14 hip s) with cerebral palsy. Age of the patients ranged from 11 to 20 years. Thr ee patients had previously undergone a salvage procedure. Radiographic foll ow-up averaged 16 months (range, 4 months to 5 years). Ten of the hips rema ined located on the latest radiographs, and four of the hips dislocated wit hin 4 months of the procedure. No patient exhibited migration or failure of the implants, although one patient exhibited periprosthetic osteolysis, wh ich remained unchanged over a 4-year period. Clinical follow-up averaged 5 years (range, 2-6 years). Ten patients (13 hips) had complete relief of hip pain. Caretaker satisfaction was high for these patients, with all 10 care takers stating that they would recommend the procedure. One patient continu ed to have persistent pain in the hip, and the caretaker stated that she wo uld not recommend the procedure.