Arthrodesis for disabling hip pain in children and adolescents.

A 9-year follow-up study of patients who had hip fusion for disabling hip pain in childhood suggests that arthrodesis for disabling hip pain in children is effective and well-tolerated. The patients had excellent functional results with return to normal childhood life styles, athletics, and later productive occupations. No patient wanted or needed conversion to a total hip replacement at follow-up. The fused hips adducted progressively until skeletal maturity. The surgeon should make allowances for future adduction in selecting the position of postoperative immobilization-fixation of a child's hip.