[Treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip in older children (author's transl)].

In children who are older than three years the obstacles of reduction can be overcome without danger for the blood supply of the femoral head only by operative measures. It stands the test to combine open reduction with the nearly always necessary correction of the dysplastic acetabulum, the shortening of the femur and derotating osteotomy. The results definitely depend on the individual indication and the operating technique. In cases of severe dysplasia of the acetabulum the acetabuloplasty shows better results in correction and reduction of the hip joint than Salter's osteotomy. Chiari's osteotomy of the pelvis should be taken into consideration only in such special cases with residual subluxation or with an extreme flat acetabulum. The follow up of 67 congenital dislocations of the hip in children aged between three and thirteen years shows, that operative treatment of bilateral luxation is indicated in patients between three and six years of age and unilateral luxation up to the age of adolescence.