[5-year results of Salter's osteotomy in the treatment of congenital hip dislocation. Apropos of 30 cases].

Residual dysplasia and iatrogenic osteochondritis are two complications of treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip. Confidence is placed in the use of slow orthopedic reduction with a combined stabilizing Salter's osteotomy. This method was applied in 20 cases while in 10 patients a Salter's operation was performed for confirmed failure of orthopedic therapy. These were cases of severe dislocation, the mean age of the patients when starting treatment being 11 months. The mean age at the last follow-up examination was 5 years, when confirmation was obtained of the excellent clinical result, and particularly the radiographic outcome with normal cotyloid angles and good anterior cover. Pelvic osteotomy when mean age was 22 months produced as near as possible a normal hip before 6 years of age, without altering growth of the surperior extremity of the femur.