PELVIC OSTEOTOMIES FOR SUBLUXATION OF THE HIP IN CEREBRAL-PALSY

Twenty-three pelvic osteotomies (10 Salter, seven Chiari, six Steel) w ere performed on 21 patients with cerebral palsy for hip subluxation o r dislocation from 1977 to 1986. The principal indication for osteotom y was inadequate coverage of the femoral head. Stability was maintaine d in 19 of 23 hips with an average follow-up of 6.14 years (2.0-13.3). The hips showed a significantly improved center-edge angle, acetabula r angle, Reimers index, and neck-shaft angle. There were six failures; painful degenerative joint disease developed in two patients and resu bluxation or dislocation in four. Pelvic osteotomies can provide hip s tability in selected cerebral palsy patients.