Ossific nucleus eccentricity in congenital dislocation of the hip.

We studied plain films, arthrograms, and clinical courses of patients with congenital dislocation of the hip to examine the relationship of ossific nucleus eccentricity (ONE) of the femoral head to the shape of the cartilaginous femoral head and the prognosis of these findings. No statistically significant correlation of ONE and cartilaginous femoral head shape was noted, nor was correlation noted for early femoral head shape and subsequent clinical course. Only the association of ONE in an older subgroup of patients with a complicated clinical course was statistically significant (p less than 0.05).