One-stage treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip in untreated children from two to five years old. A comparative study.

A total of 38 children (49 hips) were retrospectively investigated to assess the efficacy and safety of one-stage treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in untreated children from two to five years of age. Our method consisted of open reduction, Salter innominate osteotomy, femoral shortening and derotation osteotomy. The patients were distributed into two groups according to the age at which they were operated: Group I included 19 patients aged < 3 years (24 hips) and Group II included 19 patients aged > or = 3 years (25 hips). Mean follow-up was 5.08 years for Group I and 5.76 years for group II. Clinical and radiological assessment at final followup showed that the outcome was not significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, after this follow-up period, the rates of avascular necrosis were similar. Children with DDH between two and five years of age were treated successfully with one-stage treatment.