Resection arthroplasty of the hip in paralytic dislocations.

The chronically dislocated paralytic hip causes postural difficulties, nursing and hygiene problems, and pain. Therapeutic options are limited. This study reviews the results of resection arthroplasty on 18 hips of 15 such patients. This procedure has many complications, including hip ankylosis, heterotopic ossification, abduction contracture and bony overgrowth. Despite this, all of the nursing goals were achieved and most patients had relief of pain. The operation is most successful in the skeletally mature patients, and it relies on soft-tissue interposition between the bony fragments and postoperative positioning to ensure optimum posture.