Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD), is a rare avascular osteonecrosis of the proximal femur usually occurring in children between 5 and 10 years of age. The cause of ischemia leading to necrosis of the femoral head remains unknown. The goal of surgical treatment for LCPD is to improve the containment of the femoral head to restore the function of the hip joint and prevent further damage to the femoral head leading to premature hip osteoarthritis. Although a causal therapy is not available, the main aim is to maintain or restore the containment of the affected hip joint. The specific surgical treatment depends on the patient's age at onset, the stage, and severity of the disease. In early stages of the disease, the most common surgical option is a containment-restoring procedure such as femoral varus osteotomy (FVO), Salter's innominate osteotomy (SIO), and triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO). Moderate forms of LCPD show good results after treatment with either FVO or SIO, severe cases are recommended to be treated with FVO combined with either SIO or TPO to provide good outcomes. In later stages with increased damage to the femoral head, surgical options may include non-containment-restoring procedures to help symptom relief or restore anatomical and biomechanical features to a certain extend e.g., femoral valgus extension osteotomy or trochanter apophyseodesis. Due to the complexity of surgical interventions and the challenging nature of LCPD it is essential to consult with an experienced surgeon in pediatric orthopedics to determine the best treatment course for the patient.

Shelf acetabuloplasty continues to be effective in the prevention or delay of osteoarthritis in adolescent dysplastic hips. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and to determine the correct level of the bone graft objectively. We retrospectively analyzed 16 hips underwent Shelf acetabuloplasty originated by Spitzy. The mean age at surgery was 15.3 years old with the mean caput index at 39.7%. The average follow-up was 11 years. The radiological evaluation was based on acetabular-head index (AHI) at preoperative and latest radiographs, acetabular-Shelf distance (ASD) and Shelf-head ratio at immediate postoperative and latest radiographs. The cutoff value for the ideal ASD was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and the Pearson correlation test used in statistical analysis to assess the relationship between ASD and Shelf graft resorption. Clinical evaluation was performed using Harris Hip Score (HHS) at the latest follow-up. The AHI was improved in all cases, from mean 56.9 to 91.0% (P < 0.001). The mean of ASD was 7 mm. In nine of the 16 cases, the Shelf graft was well united at the same level of the existing acetabulum with good continuity. The ROC curve showed the cutoff value for the ideal ASD was 6 mm. The Pearson correlation test also showed a positive relationship between ASD and Shelf graft resorption (P = 0.001). The average of HHS scores was 98.1 points. Both radiological and clinical results were acceptable. The ideal placement that keeps the shelf sufficient to bear the mechanical stress without bone resorption over time was at the level of 6 mm from the joint space. Level III - therapeutic study.

Pelvic osteotomies are used for hip preservation in children and young adults to improve femoral head coverage and stabilize the hip joint. Redirectional osteotomies aim to reduce the overall volume and redirect the acetabulum. These include Salter, Pemberton, Dega, and San Diego osteotomies. Reorientation osteotomies aim to reorient the acetabulum and include periacetabular and triple osteotomies. Salvage osteotomies aim to enlarge the acetabulum and medialize the hip center. These include shelf and Chiari osteotomies. The standard anterior approach and surgical technique for the eight pelvic osteotomies used by hip preservation surgeons are described along with each osteotomy's history, indications, and outcomes.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is a childhood hip condition in which the blood supply to the capital femoral epiphysis is interrupted, causing osteonecrosis and chondronecrosis that lead to progressive deformity of the femoral head and secondary degenerative osteoarthritis in later life. The etiology of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease remains unclear, with both biological and mechanical factors playing important roles in the pathogenesis of the condition. The treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease remains controversial but is dependent on several salient factors, including the age at clinical onset, the extent of epiphyseal involvement, the stage of the disease, and the degree of femoral head deformity. The literature supports operative containment treatment in the early stage of disease. Such treatment has led to improved femoral head sphericity with better patient outcomes in multicenter prospective cohort studies. The number of hips that need to be treated operatively in order to achieve a modest treatment effect remains high. Multicenter prospective cohort studies have shown that 6 to 7 patients need to be managed to create 1 spherical femoral head that would not have otherwise occurred.

Hip dysplasia is a developmental disorder that results in anatomic abnormalities in which the acetabular coverage is insufficient. In the absence of severe degenerative changes, younger active patients with these symptomatic structural abnormalities are increasingly managed with joint-preserving operations. Historically there have been numerous reconstructive pelvic osteotomies. In recent years, the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) has become the preferred osteotomy by many surgeons. Even so, as our understanding of the hip advances and new diagnostic and treatment techniques are developed, we sought to put a focus on the long-term results of augmental osteotomies and pelvic osteotomies other than the PAO, to see if any of these surgeries still have a place in the current algorithm of treatment for the dysplastic hip. As the longevity of the treatment is the focal point for joint preservation surgeries for the dysplastic hip, these authors have searched databases for articles in the English literature that reported results of long-term follow-up with a minimum of 11-year survivorship after surgical treatment of developmental dysplasia of the hip. Reconstruction osteotomies for the dysplastic hip are intended to restore normal hip anatomy and biomechanics, improve symptoms and prevent degenerative changes, in this manuscript each procedure is independently assessed on the ability to achieve these important characteristics.

To evaluate the effectiveness of shelf acetabuloplasty in the containment of extruded hips without hinge abduction in early stages of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, we present a retrospective series of 44 patients (45 hips) treated between August 1999 and February 2010, which included 34 boys and 10 girls with a mean age at diagnosis of 7.4 years (range, 3.9 to 15.3).

All patients presented with sclerosis or early fragmentation stages. The average time from diagnosis to surgery was 2.1 months (range, 0 to 8.2) and the mean time to heal was 40.4 months (range, 20 to 82.2). The Reimer migration and the deformity indices were measured on initial, preoperative, postoperative, and healed x-rays. The average deformity index at 3 of those 4 timepoints was significantly related to their final Stulberg classification. CE angles increased and Sharp angles decreased significantly as a result of treatment.

At the healed stage and consistent with other published series, 84.4% of patients were Stulberg III or less, denying any pain, and with full range of movement, whereas 15.6% were classified as Stulberg IV.

We defend that shelf acetabuloplasty should be performed early in the disease and, uniquely, we propose that the indication for treatment should be guided by the deformity and the Reimer migration indices.

IV.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of Tönnis triple pelvic osteotomy in patients with LCP disease.

Between 2007 and 2011, Tönnis triple pelvic osteotomy was performed for 43 patients with LCP, in our institute. During the follow-ups of patients with LCP the indications for the surgery were lateralization of the femoral head, insufficient femoral head coverage and subluxation of the femoral head. The mean age of patients at the time of surgery was 9.4 years.

Before surgical intervention, according to Waldenstrom classification, three patients were in the necrosis stage (7 %), six patients in the fragmentation stage (13.9 %), 16 patients in the re-ossification stage (37.2 %) and 18 patients in the remodeling stage (41.9 %). According to Herring classification, four patients were in group B (9.3 %), one patient in group B/C (2.3 %) and 38 patients in group C (88.4 %). After the operation, patients were evaluated with Stulberg classification, and good outcome (Stulberg I/II) was achieved in 23 patients (53, 5 %), fair outcome (Stulberg III) in 16 patients (37, 2 %) and poor outcome (Stulberg IV/V) was seen in only four patients (9.3 %). The mean value of CEA was 0.37° pre-operatively and in the last follow-ups the mean value of CEA was 23.7°.

We recommend triple pelvic osteotomy for patients with LCP when conservative methods are not successful. According to our results we believe that Waldenstrom classification is a better option than Herring classification to determine the prognosis of disease after containment surgery.

Rotational acetabular osteotomy (RAO), Chiari osteotomy and shelf procedure are important treatments to delay the progression of osteoarthritis in developmental dysplasia of hip (DDH) patients, but their biomechanical differences are still unknown. This study was to evaluate the different biomechanical changes of hip joint after these three surgeries.

Sixteen DDH models of 8 human cadaver specimens were reconstructed, and treated by different surgeries, and then strain around femoral head was evaluated by strain gauges.

Hip strain value of DDH model was decreased after treated by shelf procedure (Pleft = 0.016 and Pright = 0.021) and rotational acetabular osteotomy (P = 0.004), but not in Chiari osteotomy (P = 0.856). Moreover, the improved ratio of RAO treatment was better than shelf procedure (P = 0.015) and Chiari osteotomy (P = 0.0007), and the descendent range of shelf procedure was greater than Chiari osteotomy (P = 0.018).

From biomechanics points, RAO was more effective in relieving hip joint stress compared with shelf procedure and Chiari osteotomy.

Many surgeons recommend pelvic osteotomy to treat symptomatic hip dysplasia in younger patients. We previously reported a cohort of patients at 10 and 15 years followup in which 65% of the patients showed no progression of osteoarthritis (OA).

The purposes of this study were to determine whether the triple osteotomy can provide (1) continuing pain relief and (2) function; and to determine the (3) incidence of OA and (4) number of patients undergoing THAs 23 years or more after triple osteotomy.

Between 1980 and 1987, 51 pelvic osteotomies were performed in 43 patients (38 females and five males; mean age, 28 years; range, 14-48 years). Followup was obtained for 40 patients (49 of 51 hips; 96%). Clinical evaluation, including pain, mobility, and ROM, was graded according to the subgroups of the modified scoring system of Merle d'Aubigné and Postel. The minimum followup was 23 years (mean, 25 years; range, 23-29 years).

The mean VAS pain score increased from 27 mm to 31 mm at the last followup, but remained substantially lower than before surgery. The mean Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score improved from 13 preoperatively to 15 at a mean of 10 years followup but at last followup, the mean score had decreased to 14, thereby showing a trend to diminish. At 15 years followup, 20 patients showed signs of OA. At 25 years followup, 18 of 33 patients without THAs showed signs of OA (55%). Six patients (six hips) had undergone THAs at 15 years, increasing to 15 patients (16 hips) at 25 years.

While the triple osteotomy for symptomatic developmental dysplasia of the hip in young adults provides substantial pain relief and restores function in most patients, these results deteriorate over decades owing to the development of OA. Even in joints without preoperative OA, a THA cannot always be avoided. The triple osteotomy does not normalize the joint and the incidence of THA in this group of patients (32%) is much higher than in the general population.

Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The evidence supporting continued use of shelf acetabuloplasty in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) is not well-defined, and there is controversy regarding the long-term benefits related to clinical and functional improvement.

Our goals were to determine whether shelf arthroplasty for LCPD (1) prevents the onset of early osteoarthritis; (2) improves pain, ROM, activity, and functional outcomes; (3) maintains or improves femoral head containment, sphericity, and congruency; (4) changes the acetabular index; and (5) is associated with a low rate of complications.

We performed a systematic review of the medical literature from 1966 to 2009 using the search terms Perthes, shelf procedure, and acetabuloplasty. We excluded reports using multiple/combined treatment methods and those not clearly stratifying outcomes. Thirteen studies met the criteria. There were no Level I studies, one Level II prognostic study, five Level III therapeutic studies, and seven Level IV studies. Mean followup ranged from 2.6 to 17.9 years.

Only one study reported progression to early osteoarthritis in one patient. We found no evidence for improvement in ROM and continued pain relief at long-term followup. Mean decrease in lateral subluxation ratio was 13% to 30%, demonstrating an improvement in femoral head containment. Mean acetabular cover percentage improved 16% to 38%, and mean acetabular and center-edge angles improved 4° to 14° and 8° to 33°, respectively. There were no reports of any major complications after the procedure.

While radiographic measurements indicate improved coverage of the femoral head after shelf acetabuloplasty for LCPD, available evidence does not document the procedure prevents early onset of osteoarthritis or improves long-term function.

Shelf acetabuloplasty has the potential to cause iatrogenic acetabular growth arrest, although accelerated acetabular growth has been reported based on plain radiographic evaluations in patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Because plain radiographs may be limited in depicting actual acetabular morphology, it is unclear whether there are growth disturbances.

We therefore determined (1) whether focal or generalized acetabular growth stimulation or retardation occurred based on CT analysis in combination with plain radiographic assessment; and (2) whether radiographically assessed femoral head deformity, subluxation, and acetabular dysplasia were associated with residual zonal rim dysplasia of the acetabulum.

We examined 14 patients who had undergone shelf acetabuloplasty for "reducible subluxation" and underwent CT scans at a mean 7 years after surgery (range, 3-11 years). We measured radiographic indices reflecting acetabular depth and rim dysplasia on multiplanar reformatted images in 10 radial planes and on plain radiographs and calculated their operation-to-control ratios to assess growth changes. The mean age at surgery was 9.3 years (range, 7-12 years).

We observed generalized accelerated growth in 11 hips and equivocal growth in three. None of the 14 hips showed an abrupt change in acetabular geometry. Despite improved acetabular depth in all hips, eight hips had focal rim dysplasia in the superior zone on CT examinations, and this was associated with a smaller center-edge angle, a greater deformity index, and preexisting acetabular dysplasia.

Our observations support the notion that shelf acetabuloplasty has a favorable, stimulatory effect on acetabular growth. However, the possible persistence of preexisting zonal rim dysplasia should be considered.

Residual hip dysplasia (a relatively common condition in young children and adolescents) left undetected or partially treated, almost certainly leads to further progression of deformity, eventually ending in a nonfunctional, painful hip joint. Therefore, every effort should be made to identify and treat hip dysplasia early.The use of 3D imaging, including CT and MRI assessment, has enhanced the diagnosis and treatment of patients with dysplasia because they facilitate proper identification of important pathomorphologic anatomy and cartilage degeneration. Future studies should take these novel imaging modalities into consideration with the attempt to (re-) evaluate optimal selection criteria for surgery, risk factors for clinical failure and optimal deformity correction. Treatment of residual hip dysplasia requires corrective surgery. The goal of surgical treatment is to normalize joint loading by increasing the contact area and improving the level arm of the hip to forestall the development of OA. Proper selection and performance of a correction osteotomy and adjunctive procedures are prerequisites for a good clinical outcome and high survivorship of the reconstructed hip. Augmentation procedures, such as the Chiari osteotomy or the shelf procedure described by Staheli, remain as a salvage option in cases when irreversible cartilage damage is present or when reorientation is not feasible.

Despite early treatment efforts, many patients with Perthes disease are left with residual femoral head deformity, which can be symptomatic with a residual limp and poor hip motion. Many such patients can be treated using an extra-articular femoral osteotomy. Selecting treatment methods for patients with symptomatic Perthes disease with healed but deformed femoral heads has always been difficult but is now even more complex because of the new possibilities of femoral head-neck recontouring and femoral head reduction surgery. Occasionally, patients develop osteochondritis dissecans when there is little femoral head deformity. The primary objective of management is to establish the exact cause of pain and address that cause specifically. This article outlines an approach to these patients.

The objective of containment treatment in Perthes disease is to hold the femoral head in the acetabulum during the period of "biologic plasticity" while necrotic bone is resorbed and living bone is restored through the process of "creeping substitution." This article identifies the various methods of containment and the technical aspects of each method. Choice of method depends on the experience of the surgeon and the psychosocial needs of the patient and family. Failure is more commonly a result of inappropriate patient selection for a particular method, delay in management, or technical errors rather than to the method that was selected.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip predisposes to premature degenerative hip disease. A number of operations have been described to improve acetabular cover and have achieved varying degrees of success. We present the case of an 84-year-old woman, who underwent a shelf procedure to reconstruct a dysplastic hip 75 years ago. To date, the shelf remains intact and the hip is asymptomatic. We believe this represents the longest documented outcome of any procedure to stabilise the hip.

The slotted acetabular augmentation procedure can never achieve a concentric and congruous reduction of the femoral head. The aim of this study was to review the results of the slotted acetabular augmentation procedure performed at the time of open reduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip in older children.

Twenty-two patients with 27 hips underwent open reduction with concurrent slotted acetabular augmentation. The average age at the time of surgery was 8.5 years. The average follow-up was 8.3 years.

Using modified McKay clinical criteria, 16 hips were classified as excellent, 8 hips as good, and 3 hips as fair. Using modified Severin radiographic criteria, 15 hips gave excellent results and 12 hips gave good results.

Slotted acetabular augmentation with concurrent open reduction can be an effective procedure for developmental dysplasia of the hip in older children.

The study of therapeutic studies investigating the results of the treatment is level II.

Surgical correction for the challenging combined deformities in hip dysplasia associated with cerebral palsy remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and determine the role of slotted acetabular augmentation (SAA) for the treatment of neuromuscular hip dysplasia in comparison with other treatment options.

We retrospectively analyzed 19 dysplastic hips in 19 patients with cerebral palsy who underwent SAA, alone or as part of a combined 1-stage approach, consisting of soft tissue lengthening and/or a proximal femoral osteotomy, during a 20-year period.

The mean age at the time of operation was 14 years and 7 months (range: 12 to 17 years and 11 months). All had a closed triradiate cartilage. In 13 hips, preoperative radiographs showed major aspheric femoral head deformities. All had subluxation or dislocation of the hip and severe acetabular dysplasia, associated with a painful hip in 15 patients. Before operation, the mean migration index was 64+/-18%, the mean Sharp angle was 51+/-4 degrees, and the mean center-edge angle was -4+/-13 degrees. On immediate postoperative radiographs, they were 3+/-5%, 35+/-5 degrees, and 42+/-11 degrees. At final follow-up, the average migration index was 10+/-8%, the mean Sharp angle was 35+/-6 degrees, and the mean center-edge angle was 39+/-13 degrees. Eleven hips required soft tissue lengthening and 5 hips had a proximal femoral osteotomy at the time of the shelf procedure. At the latest follow-up (mean duration: 5 years and 5 months), 16 of the 19 hips remained anatomically reduced.

Our results suggest that SAA is a successful procedure to treat advanced neurogenic acetabular dysplasia with or without femoral head deformities in skeletally mature patients.

Classical surgical treatments for Legg-Calvé-Perthes (LCP) disease are pelvic or femoral osteotomies, which are not without complications and inconvenience for the patient.An effective, relatively undamaging surgical alternative would improve this disease treatment.

Augmentation acetabuloplasty using shelf acetabuloplasty is a recognized treatment for LCP disease, but its results have never been assessed in view of Herring's lateral pillar classification, the current reference in determining the prognosis of this disease. Assessment of its efficacy based on this system is therefore needed.

Over 15 years, 21 patients underwent shelf acetabuloplasty. Included in the study were children with a progressively subluxating femoral head and classified minimum grade B in the lateral pillar classification. The last follow-up had to be at least 12 months after surgery and include a clinical examination as well as an AP pelvic X-ray.

The mean follow-up was 4 years and 3 months. Only two complications occurred, one of which required surgical revision. Shelf acetabuloplasty was considered effective (contained and Stulberg 1 or 2) in 13 cases and ineffective (lysed or Stulberg 3, 4, or 5) in eight cases.

The lateral pillar classification demonstrated its high value in LCP disease in correlation with symptom onset. This series shows that at the medium term, shelf acetabuloplasty is as effective as pelvic or femoral osteotomies for children of any age and any level of disease severity, with fewer complications and less inconvenience for the patient.

: Level IV. Therapeutic retrospective study.

Joint-preserving reconstructive surgeries in children and adolescents remain challenging for orthopaedists with regard to indication and surgical technique. Besides skeletal maturity and tissue quality at the time of surgery, the kind and degree of deformity, the causative pathologies in secondary dysplasias, and the prognosis have to be considered when deciding for or against a surgical procedure. Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is the most frequent deformity that indicates reorienting surgery on the hip joint in children and adolescents. The aim of these procedures is to prevent early secondary osteoarthritis. For patients and families as well as for the orthopaedist, risk-benefit analysis is of major interest.

In this study, the surgical techniques and specialties of different reconstructive operations are presented. Based on a review of the literature, the results of defined surgical methods are discussed and compared with own experiences.

Only limited information is available about the clinical long-term outcome after defined reconstructing surgery on the hip joint in children and adolescents. The degree of the deformity, the age of onset, and the surgical experience of the orthopaedist are crucial factors in decision making for or against a surgical treatment. In early childhood, acetabuloplasty and Salter osteotomy are widely accepted to correct DDH. Triple and periacetabular osteotomies are preferred and have shown promising results in late adolescence and young adults. When the triradiate cartilage (growth plate) is closed, good outcomes can be achieved by the Ganz osteotomy. Intertrochanteric varus and derotation osteotomies of the femur may serve as additional procedures for pelvic osteotomies and are rarely indicated as a single procedure today.

Reconstructive surgery on the hip joint improves function and may prevent early osteoarthritis and delay progression of cartilage degeneration in most patients when the indication and surgical technique are appropriate.

This study retrospectively evaluated the benefits and prognostic factors of slotted acetabular augmentation (SAA) used for treating painful residual or neglected dysplastic hips in adolescents and young adults.

Sixteen hips in 15 patients underwent SAA at an average age of 14.4 years. The radiologic and functional outcomes were reviewed after an average follow-up of 6.6 years.

All the patients obtained marked alleviation of pain (p<0.05). Harris hip score (HHS) was improved from 74.7 to 92.7 on average (p<0.05). Postoperative center-edge angle, Sharp's angle, c/b ratio and femoral head coverage showed significant improvement (p<0.01). Among the radiographic parameters, only the postoperative measurement of the femoral head coverage was significantly correlated with improvement of HHS (p<0.05). Detectable progression of osteoarthritis, from grade III to IV, was found in one patient 12 years after surgery. None of the hips required conversion to joint replacement. There were no surgical complications. Three-dimensional computed tomography showed that the grafts remained intact and provided congruent coverage at the latest follow-up, and none of them required arthroplasty.

The major benefit of SAA was to alleviate hip pain by increasing load-bearing area. This benefit was not sensitive to preoperative radiographic parameters. There were no postoperative complications. Compared with other complex reconstructive acetabuloplasty procedures, SAA is a simple, safe and effective pain-reducing procedure for symptomatic dysplastic hips in adolescents and young adults.

The management of patients with Perthes disease remains controversial. In children with hinge abduction and the potential for remodeling, we have performed a shelf acetabuloplasty, in an effort to contain the hip and allow remodeling. We report our medium-term results in a consecutive series of 27 children with severe Perthes disease and arthrographically proven hinge abduction. This is the first report in the English literature to look specifically at the results of treating patients with hinge abduction in severe Perthes disease by shelf acetabuloplasty.

Twenty-seven consecutive children with unilateral Perthes disease and arthrographically proven hinge abduction were treated with a shelf acetabuloplasty. These patients have been prospectively reviewed with a clinical examination and radiographic assessment including Catterall, Salter Thompson, and Herring's lateral pillar classification. Radiological measurements included percentage acetabular cover, medial joint space, and femoral head size ratio.

The mean postoperative follow-up was 62 months (range, 26-125 months). All patients were Catterall grade III or IV and lateral pillar grade B or C and had arthrographically proven hinge abduction at the time of surgery. At final follow-up, 14 hips were Stulberg grades 1 and 2; 10 hips, grade 3; and 3 hips, grades 4 and 5. The medial joint space decreased from a preoperative ratio of 1.9 to 1.4 (P = 0.002), and the percentage acetabular cover increased from 81% preoperatively to 97% postoperatively (P < 0.001).

These results suggest overall good outcomes from a group of patients with severe Perthes disease as measured by the Stulberg grading when compared with historical controls. We suggest that shelf acetabuloplasty is a straight forward surgical procedure with good medium-term results in patients with severe Perthes disease who have proven hinge abduction preoperatively.

Level IV case series.

Different pelvic osteotomies and various shelf procedures are used for the operative treatment of hip dysplasia. Slotted acetabular augmentation (SAA) is a well-established technique for the treatment of children and adolescents with hip dysplasia. It has not been widely accepted for treating hip dysplasia in adults although good outcomes have been reported with other augmentation techniques in adults.

Since 1997, SAA has been used for the prevention of hip arthrosis in 14 dysplastic hips in 12 female patients. The median age at operation was 38.5 (17-42) years; the median follow-up period was 4 (1-8) years. The patients were evaluated on the basis of radiographic, biomechanical and clinical data prior to surgery and at follow-up.

The median centre-edge angle of Wiberg increased from 9 degrees (1-26) before the operation to 43 degrees (31-55) at the latest follow-up (P < 0.001). The median peak stress on the weight-bearing area of the hip, calculated mathematically, was reduced from 14.9 (6.3-28-1) MPa prior to the operation to 4.1 (3-6.1) MPa at the latest follow-up (P < 0.001); the median Harris Hip Score increased from 60 (45-98) points preoperatively to 93 (49-100) points at the follow-up (P < 0.001). There was no difference between the preoperative and follow-up hip joint-space width (P = 0.2).

There were no postoperative complications. In our series, the procedure has proved reliable and safe. Its advantages include symptomatic pain relief, adequate acetabular roof coverage and reduced peak stress on the weight bearing area of the hip. It can be used to postpone the development of hip arthrosis in adults with acetabular dysplasia.

This paper describes the technique and results of an acetabuloplasty in which the false acetabulum is turned down to augment the dysplastic true acetabulum at its most defective part. This operation was performed in 17 hips (16 children), with congenital dislocation and false acetabula. The mean age at operation was 5.1 years (4 to 8). The patients were followed clinically and radiologically for a mean of 6.3 years (5 to 10). A total of 16 hips had excellent results and there was one fair result due to avascular necrosis. The centre-edge angles and the obliquity of the acetabular roof improved in all cases, from a mean of -15.9 degrees (-19 degrees to 3 degrees ) and 42.6 degrees (33 degrees to 46 degrees ) to a mean of 29.5 degrees (20 degrees to 34 degrees ) and 11.9 degrees (9 degrees to 19 degrees ), respectively. The technique is not complex and is stable without internal fixation. It provides a near-normal acetabulum that requires minimal remodelling, and allows early mobilisation.

Dysplasia epiphysealis hemimelica (Trevor's disease) is a rare developmental bone disorder characterized by single or multiple epiphyseal intraarticular lesions that are usually unilateral and restricted to one side of the limb. Although the process often is limited to the lower extremity, hip involvement is not common. When it occurs it is more commonly limited to the femoral side. We report a 14-year-old boy with Trevor's disease involving the hip, femoral and acetabular sides, and with progressive dysplasia. We describe a new surgical approach to this rare condition using a two-stage procedure consisting of intraarticular resection of the lesion followed by a modified shelf acetabuloplasty in a second stage to prevent compromise of the proximal femur vasculature, and to allow preservation and improvement of range of motion of the hip. At 36 months followup the patient is pain-free, has full range of motion, improved gait, and no signs of recurrence. Although technically challenging, the two-stage approach to Trevor's disease seems a reasonable and safe method.

Although head containment is extremely important for the development of the acetabulum and femoral head, there are debates about conservative and surgical treatment. Shelf acetabuloplasty is an effective means of treatment as regards the coverage of the femoral head within the acetabulum, which is the most important issue for the normal development of the hip joint. Nineteen hips of 18 patients were evaluated radiographically using the acetabulum-head index of Heyman and Herndon and the center-edge angle for containment. It was shown that postoperatively both indices improve to increase the containment, thus demonstrating the effectiveness of shelf acetabuloplasty.

This is a roentgenographic and retrospective study comparing the results of two different operative procedures used in the treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: Salter innominate osteotomy, and Augmented Acetabuloplasty. Group I comprised 43 patients (50 hips) who underwent Salter osteotomy. Another 40 patients (40 hips) were treated by Augmented Acetabuloplasty and formed Group 2. In Group 1, 11 (25.58%) patients were girls and 32 (74.42%) were boys. In Group 2, there were 4 (10%) girl and 36 (90%) boy patients. The average age was 6.62 years in Group 1 and 6.35 years in Group 2. Follow-up varied from 2 years to 10 years in both Groups 1 and 2. In Group 1, 18 (36%) hips were in the stage of necrosis, 28 (56%) in fragmentation, and 4 (8%) in reossification; in Group 2, 16 (40%) hips were in necrosis, 23 (57.5%) in fragmentation, and only 1 (2.5%) in reossification. All hips in necrosis were included in Salter and Thompson group B; all hips in fragmentation were classed as Catterall group 3 or 4. Preoperative arthrographs of the 50 hips in Group I were graded according to Laredo: 29 (58%) in group III, 18 (36%) in group IV, and 3 (6%) in group V. Only 23 of the 43 hips of Group 2 had preoperative arthrographs; there were 14 (60.87%) in group III, 8 (34.78%) in group IV, and 1 (4.35%) in group V. The preoperative Wiberg's Center-Edge (CE) angle of Group 2 (19.4 degrees) was significantly greater than that of Group 1 (16.7 degrees). The percentage difference (A%) between immediate postoperative and preoperative CE angle was significantly greater in Group 2. The delta% between final and immediate postoperative CE angle was significantly greater in Group 1, and within Group 1 it was significantly greater at age 4 years to 6 years. The A% between final and preoperative CE angle was statistically the same in both Group I and Group 2. The distribution of good, fair and poor Mose ratings did not differ in Group 1 and Group 2, but there was a tendency of better results after Augmented Acetabuloplasty in children older than 6 years. Younger patients of Group 1 (4-6 years) ended up with good results at a significantly higher frequency than the older ones. Group 1 children with preoperative Laredo III arthrography had good results in a significantly greater number of cases, as compared with Laredo grade IV. The delta% between final and immediate postoperative CE angle was greater in those hips with good Mose rating.

We have developed a block of glass-ceramic to augment the dysplastic acetabulum. 3 patients with acetabular dysplasia underwent implantation of a block of glass-ceramic on the lateral surface of the ilium just above the hip joint. The patients did not require immobilization and returned to their daily lives, walking without a cane 4 weeks after the operation. The mean Harris hip score was 47 points preoperatively and 94 points 3 years postoperatively.

Persistent acetabular dysplasia is a well-known cause of premature hip osteoarthritis. In the dysplastic hip, point loading occurs at the edge of the steep, shallow acetabulum. Pelvic osteotomies reduce this load by increasing the contact area, relaxing the capsule and muscles about the hip, improving the moment arm of the hip, and normalizing the forces of weight bearing. The orthopaedic surgeon can choose from among a variety of pelvic osteotomies (e.g., redirectional, reshaping, and salvage) for the purpose of restoring normal anatomy and biomechanical forces across the hip joint. Treatment of residual dysplasia is based on the patient's age and the presence or absence of congruent hip reduction. A Salter or Pemberton procedure is generally appropriate for a child between the ages of 2 and 10. A triple innominate osteotomy can be considered for the older child or adolescent in whom the triradiate cartilage remains open. After triradiate closure, the Ganz periacetabular osteotomy can be considered in addition to the triple innominate osteotomy.

The periosteum in children and especially infants has significant osteogenic potential. To determine the efficacy of periosteal flaps to assist in improving acetabular coverage in children with acetabular dysplasia, a series of experiments were designed using young rabbits. Three groups of five rabbits each had periosteal flaps fashioned and brought down from the anterolateral aspect of the innominate bone superior to the acetabulum and sutured to the capsule of the hip. The study was designed to examine the effects of the periosteal cambium layer in the formation of new bone to augment the acetabulum and to determine the effects of a periosteal flap plus cancellous bone graft. A control group of five rabbits underwent a sham operation of an open arthrotomy of the hip. Radiographic and histologic examination at 12 weeks revealed augmentation of the acetabulum with periosteal flaps that resulted in an average improvement of the acetabular index of 3.5 degrees and 6.6 degrees, without and with bone graft, respectively. New bone formation from the rim of the acetabulum averaged 3.9 mm with periosteal flaps alone and 4.6 mm with bone graft added. Periosteal augmentation of the acetabulum in conjunction with established procedures for augmenting acetabular coverage would appear to be a useful procedure for improving coverage of the femoral head in children with acetabular dysplasia.

Between 1986 and 1992, we performed 14 lateral shelf augmentation of the acetabulum in 12 children suffering from severe Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. All children were over 9 years of age and none of the patients had previously undergone any other treatment. All children presented with a limitation of hip movement and episodes of pain during long walks and athletic activities. The clinical outcome was good in all children who were free of pain and walked without limping. Hip movement was painless and improved satisfactorily.