[Congenital dislocation of the hip treated by the Somerville technique at the age of walking. A long term review].

Sixty congenital dislocations of the hip in thirty seven children had been treated at the age of walking by the Somerville-Petit technique between 1958 and 1961. The results have been reviewed after the end of bone maturation. The results were assessed using Severin's criteria, including the Wiberg C E angle and the morphological appearances of the acetabulum and the femoral epiphysis. Nearly all the hips had at least one residual defect; less than two thirds could be described as satisfactory. The radiological study show minimal change after the age of ten. The authors conclude that the results of the technique are deceptive and they now practise, more systematically, Salter osteotomy or triple osteotomy with the expectation of better final results.