Abstract

Traumatic hip dislocation is rare in children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features, dislocation types, treatments, and clinical and radiological outcomes. Seven cases of traumatic hip dislocation in children treated between 1996 and 2006 were included in this study. There were six boys and one girl with a mean age of 6.5 years. Six children had a low-energy injury. One child had a road traffic accident. All had a posterior dislocation of the hip without any associated fracture. All children underwent closed reduction of their dislocation. The mean time interval between dislocation and reduction was 4 hours and 50 minutes. Following reduction, they were immobilised for six weeks : skin traction was applied for 3 weeks, followed in six children by a hip spica cast and in one child by non weight bearing mobilization. The mean follow-up was 6.7 years. After clinical examination the hip was classified as normal in 6 children. One child had a stiff hip and a radiograph showed signs of avascular necrosis. The severity of injury was related to the age at the time of injury. Factors predisposing to avascular necrosis were delayed reduction and severity of trauma.