[Hips in myelomeningocele and functional autonomy].

The authors have reviewed 93 children with myelomeningocele and with hip involvement. Some had been operated upon and others had not. The results of surgery were often disappointing when the patient was evaluated in adolescence. A number of stiff hips and recurrences of dislocation were seen after tendon transplants, open reduction or osteotomies. Considering these results and the major non-orthopaedic problems of such patients, it is concluded that bilateral dislocations should not be operated on and that early treatment should be applied in unilateral cases mainly by osteotomy.