Operative treatment of paralytic hip dislocation in myelomeningocele by Dega transiliac osteotomy combined with iliopsoas transfer: technique and historical case series

The technique of one stage procedure - open reduction, Dega transiliac with or without femoral subtrochanteric osteotomy combined with iliopsoas transfer according to Mustard - has been described for the treatment of paralytic dislocation of the hip in myelomeningocele patients. Historical series of 16 children (26 hips) operated on between 1987 and 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. There were nine boys and seven girls with upper and lower lumbar level lesions (15 with Sharrard groups 3 and 4 and one with Sharrard 2) and 20 dislocated and six subluxated hips. The mean age at operation was 5.1 years (3-12.3). Ten children were operated bilaterally. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 17 years (mean 10). Concentric reduction was achieved in 23 hips, subluxation in 1 and redislocation in 2. In one hip, acute avascular necrosis of the femoral head was visible early after operation. Immediately after the operation, most of the patients improved ambulation. After operation, 15 patients out of 16 became community ambulators. At the final follow-up, none of the patients worsened their ambulation due to operation. Open reduction and Dega transiliac osteotomy with or without subtrochanteric derotation/varus shortening osteotomy combined with iliopsoas transfer seem to be safe and valuable procedure for operative treatment of dislocated hip in myelomeningocele patients. Levels of evidence: level IV - case series.