Bilateral pathological hip dislocation in children

Introduction. Pathological dislocation of the hip is one of the most severe complications of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. The program of treatment for children with pathological hip dislocation is complex, but it has been sufficiently developed and implemented very successfully. At the same time, the available literature provides no cases of treating children with bilateral pathological hip dislocations after hematogenous osteomyelitis. There is no information on the incidence of such cases or in regards to remote functional results.

Materials and methods. The results of the treatment of 18 children with bilateral pathological dislocation of the hip after hematogenous osteomyelitis are presented, which constituted 23.1% of the total number of patients (78) who underwent surgery in 2000–2016 for the diagnosis of pathological hip dislocation. Both hip joints were surgically operated on in 12 patients, while one hip joint was operated on in 6 patients. To assess the anatomical and functional state of hip joints, the clinical and roentgenological diagnostic techniques were used.

Results and discussion. To stabilize and restore the function of the hip joints, 18 children underwent 30 surgical interventions: simple open hip reduction (19) and open hip reduction with hip arthroplasty with one (6) or two (5) demineralized osteochondral allogeneic grafts. The decision regarding the possibility of performing surgical intervention on the second hip joint was made only after a child's check-up examination was complete and after positive information about the anatomical and functional state of the operated hip joint was obtained. According to these criteria, 14 (77.8%) children underwent surgical treatment of the second hip joint 1–1.5 years after the course of conservative measures to restore the range of motion in the previously operated hip joint.

Over a period of 1–12 years, 17 patients were examined, 10 of which underwent an operation on both sides (27 joints). The preservation of up to 80º or more of motion amplitude was noted in 17 (62.9%) of 27 operated hip joints. When assisting patients with pathological hip dislocation, it is necessary to understand that it is practically impossible to restore the affected joint to the anatomical state of the opposite unaffected joint. As for the bilateral lesion, this is most certainly impossible, and the development of arthrosis is inevitable. Therefore, the most important factor reflecting the degree of well-being and stability of the affected joint is the amplitude of active movements. Preserving this amplitude in the affected joints with a careful and attentive attitude is a fundamental and feasible task.