Radiographic outcome of soft-tissue surgery for hip subluxation in non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy.

Abstract

This study reviewed radiographs of non-ambulatory spastic tetraparetic cerebral palsy patients who underwent soft tissue hip surgery to address hip subluxation. Patients were under 10 years of age at surgery, had limited hip motion, and radiographic subluxation. At an average 7.4 years postoperatively, hips had a migration percentage in the normal range (0-15%) in 58 of 70 cases (83%). Hips with preoperative subluxation between 30 and 49% had a normal migration percentage in 18 of 21 cases (81%), and those over 50% in three of seven (43%) of cases. Soft tissue surgery alone, even in cases of moderate hip subluxation, can result in long-term radiographic hip stability.