Salter's innominate osteotomy for hip dysplasia in adolescents and young adults: results in 58 patients (69 osteotomies) at 4-12 years.

We reviewed 69 Salter's innominate osteotomies (SIO) in 58 patients with developmental dysplasia of the hip. Their mean age at operation was 22 (13-37) years. 24 hips were operated on in patients under 18 years of age (adolescents) and 45 hips in patients 18 years or over (adults). The mean follow-up was 7.6 (3.8-12) years. The mean Harris hip score (HHS)/Merle d'Aubigné score improved from 66 (38-97)/14.0 (8.0-18) points before surgery to 81 (22-100) points/15 (6-18) points at final review. Using the endpoints total hip arthroplasty and a Merle d'Aubigné score of < 13 and/or a HHS < 71, 13 of the 69 hips had failed and the cumulative survival rate was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.69-0.89) at 12 years. Their age at operation and the grade of preoperative coxarthrosis affected the clinical outcome. No deterioration in the mean grade of coxarthrosis was noted at final review, as compared to the condition before surgery. We conclude that the SIO is a well-standardized operation, with a low risk of complications, which gives encouraging results in adolescents and young adults with or without mild arthrosis. The operation may retard or even arrest the coxarthrosis.