[The hip in infantile cerebral palsy, natural developmental course and treatment concepts].

Classification of cerebral palsy according to the topographical distribution of clinical phenomena permits determination of a prognosis of the natural history of CP and the probability of hip problems to some extent. In 55 patients with CP, 101 muscle release operations were performed between 1971 and 1988. Preoperatively, the diagnosis was established by the neuropediatrician, function was evaluated according to the Rancho-los-amigos system, and the X-rays of the hip were assessed according to Reimers. For the postoperative evaluation patients were grouped according to neurologic diagnosis: hemiplegia (4), diplegia (19), total body involvement (31). Patients with hemiplegia had no functional or radiological changes as a result of the operation. In diplegia functional deterioration was seen in 4 cases (21%); in 3 cases (16%) this meant loss of the ability to walk. The migration percentage was improved from 48% to 39% on average. In 19 cerebral palsy patients with total body involvement surgery was considered to be indicated on the basis of a suspected dislocation of the hip. No functional changes occurred as a result of surgery. Hip dislocation was successfully prevented in 90% of the cases. The migration percentage was improved from 73% to 33%. In another 12 patients with total body involvement, adductor and iliopsoas release was performed to allow better hygiene and care and for pain relief. These goals were achieved; neither the Rancho-Los-Amigos function classification system nor X-rays were used to evaluate the results.