Bioabsorbable rods in Salter's osteotomy.

Salter's innominate osteotomy is a commonly used procedure in the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip. The graft is usually fixed with two K-wires that are removed surgically 6 weeks later. The use of bioabsorbable rods to fix the graft saves patients further surgery for removal of wires and ensures a better scar. This paper reports for the first time the successful use of bioabsorbable self-reinforced polyglycolic acid rods for fixing the graft of Salter's innominate osteotomy in the treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip, and describes the suggested operative technique for their use.