[Evaluation of pediatric patients with traumatic hip dislocation].

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated pediatric patients who were treated for traumatic dislocation of the hip.

METHODS

Traumatic dislocation of the hip was detected in five children (all boys; mean age 9 years; range 7 to 13 years) between 1991 and 2005. Dislocations occurred in the right hip in four cases, and in the left hip in one, all of which had posterior localization. Etiology was fall during play in two children, and fall from height or car crash in three. One patient had posterior wall avulsion fracture of the acetabulum. Early radiologic follow-ups included conventional radiographs and computed tomography. Functional results were assessed with the Harris hip scoring system. Four patients had a sufficient follow-up period with a mean of 44 months (range 19 to 64 months).

RESULTS

All the patients were treated with closed reduction under general anesthesia after a mean of 6.4 hours (range 2 to 16 hours) following trauma. Functional results were excellent in all the patients, with a mean Harris hip score of 92 (range 84 to 96). Based on early postoperative radiologic control with computed tomography, no surgical intervention was considered for posterior wall avulsion fracture of the acetabulum in one patient. At 40-month follow-up, he had no complaints, had a full range of motion and a hip score of 92. While no complications were observed in patients undergoing early reduction, one patient whose dislocation was reduced 16 hours after trauma developed avascular necrosis of the femur head 18 months after treatment, at which time his hip score was 84.

CONCLUSION

Early reduction is of particular importance for the follow-up course of traumatic hip dislocations in childhood.