[Overhead extension in delayed diagnosis of congenital hip dislocations in children, following failure of treatment with the Pavlik harness].

Authors report, based on a retrospective examination of 103 dislocated hips of 85 children, on experiences with the overhead treatment of congenital hip dislocations, resistant to Pavlik harness or lately recognized. The results are compared with those of 23 hips of 20 children treated with Pavlik harness and plaster casts. Follow-up time was 3-15, in average 7 years. It is stated that the overhead extension treatment not followed by stiff fixation resulted in 92 per cent reduction in resistant and lately recognized hip dislocations. This procedure has caused in only 4 per cent severe necrosis of the femoral head with lasting consequences. Their experience with Pavlik harness combined with plaster cast are unfavourable as in 4 of 23 hips treated subtotal, in another 7 partial femoral head necrosis has developed.