Preliminary traction in the treatment of developmental dislocation of the hip.

The benefit of preliminary traction in the treatment of developmental dislocation of the hip has not been clearly demonstrated. We retrospectively analyzed the results of traction treatment of 90 dislocated hips in 72 patients. After a 3-week course of traction, patients underwent attempted closed reduction. Fifty-two hips (58%) were managed successfully by closed reduction, whereas 38 hips (42%) required primary open reduction. chi 2 analysis revealed no significant difference in either the rate of successful closed reduction or the incidence of avascular necrosis compared to recently published series in which preliminary traction was not used. On the basis of presentation radiographs and arthrograms, we were unable to identify a subgroup of patients that clearly benefited from the use of traction in the treatment of developmental dislocation of the hip.