Surgical Hip Dislocation in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients

Abstract

Treatment of common orthopaedic pathologies about the hip necessitates a thorough understanding of complex anatomy, pathology, surgical technique, and appropriate indications. Furthermore, treatment of orthopaedic pathology about the pediatric and adolescent hip joint requires an additional level of understanding of intricate acetabular and femoral deformity, physeal growth, skeletal maturity, and blood supply. Surgical hip dislocation (SHD) provides excellent exposure to the hip joint and allows for the treatment of a wide array of pathology, including trauma, oncologic conditions, complex hip deformity, chondrolabral pathology, and femoral acetabular impingement. To effectively treat these pathologies, one must be familiar with a standardized SHD technique and have an excellent understanding of the particular nuances of a variety of pathologies. We review the SHD technique and the various procedures it may be combined with to treat pediatric and adolescent hip conditions.

Level of Evidence: 

V, Expert opinion.