Background: Hip dislocation as a result of neurogenic hip displacement is a common focal motor symptom in children with infantile cerebral palsy (ICP). In addition to contracture of the hip joint, in up to 65 % of cases patients suffer from pain which leads to further loss of function and often to limitations in important basic functions, such as lying, care, sitting, standing and transfer.
Methods: In order to avoid hip dislocation and to be able to implement therapy at an early stage, screening programs have been developed in recent years which clearly demonstrate the risks of hip displacement in ICP depending on the ability to walk. An investigation of the natural course is practically impossible because as a rule patients with painful neurogenic hip displacement receive surgical therapy.
Patients: In this study 96 patients with high hip dislocation grade IV on the Tönnis classification were included and 68 could be followed up. The average age at the time of surgery was 10.9 years and the mean follow-up period was 7.7 years. In the postoperative course 6 out of 91 reconstructed hips became redislocated and a proximal femoral resection was carried out in one female patient. The migration index according to Reimers was 14.0 % at the time of the follow-up examination.
Conclusion: Revision procedures can be avoided by screening programs. These should be strived for so that the neuro-orthopedic treatment on operation planning is not first initiated when pain occurs and revision procedures, such as angulation osteotomy or proximal femoral resection can be avoided. The reconstruction should also involve minimal deformation of the femoral head. In order to implement this, the interdisciplinary cooperation between neuropediatricians, social pediatriatricians and neuro-orthopedists should be intensified in the future.