Pelvic osteotomies for the treatment of hip dysplasia in children and young adults.

Persistent acetabular dysplasia is a well-known cause of premature hip osteoarthritis. In the dysplastic hip, point loading occurs at the edge of the steep, shallow acetabulum. Pelvic osteotomies reduce this load by increasing the contact area, relaxing the capsule and muscles about the hip, improving the moment arm of the hip, and normalizing the forces of weight bearing. The orthopaedic surgeon can choose from among a variety of pelvic osteotomies (e.g., redirectional, reshaping, and salvage) for the purpose of restoring normal anatomy and biomechanical forces across the hip joint. Treatment of residual dysplasia is based on the patient's age and the presence or absence of congruent hip reduction. A Salter or Pemberton procedure is generally appropriate for a child between the ages of 2 and 10. A triple innominate osteotomy can be considered for the older child or adolescent in whom the triradiate cartilage remains open. After triradiate closure, the Ganz periacetabular osteotomy can be considered in addition to the triple innominate osteotomy.