Home traction in the management of congenital dislocation of the hip.

A retrospective review of sixty children with seventy-eight congenitally dislocated hips who had pre-reduction traction at home was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the traction and the incidence of severe complications, with specific reference to the incidence and severity of avascular necrosis. Thirty other children with forty-two congenitally dislocated hips who had pre-reduction traction while in the hospital were used as controls. Traction failed to radiologically improve the position of the head in relation to the acetabulum in two hips in each group. The incidence of avascular necrosis was 17.9 percent in hips treated at home and 23.8 percent in hips treated in the hospital. The hospital control group demonstrated higher incidences of the more severe types of necrosis. Traction at home was found to be an advantageous alternative to traction in the hospital, in that it is safe, effective, and less costly; however, it must be stressed that proper patient selection and careful monitoring of the program are required.