Factors influencing the results of acetabuloplasty in children.

If inadequate acetabular coverage of a femoral head does not resolve spontaneously, acetabuloplasty can be performed to correct it. An understanding of what type of patient is likely to benefit from this procedure will lead to better timing of the operative intervention. In this review of 152 acetabuloplasties, four factors were found to adversely influence the effects of the operation: age of nine years or older, subluxation or dislocation of the femoral head, deformity of the femoral head, and restricted range of hip motion. Based on these data, we recommend observing the inadequately covered hip for spontaneous improvement in coverage until the age of eight years, except in patients with subluxation or in those with worsening of femoral head deformity or progressively decreasing range of motion.