Abstract
Low-level laser irradiation was given to the area surrounding the hip joint in 113 cases with congenital dislocation of the hip (27 with luxation, 86 with subluxation), in order to eliminate soft tissue strain around the hip joint during reduction of the dislocation. The patients were all infants below 6 months of age at presentation. Treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip consisted of functional treatment using a Pavlik harness in 107 cases, re-wearing of the harness after horizontal traction in 2 cases, and abduction traction in 4 cases.
Low-level laser therapy was effective for eliminating soft tissue strain around the hip joint, proving to be useful as a physical therapy procedure prior to the use of the harness. Following laser irradiation, the femoral head could be readily elevated, even during horizontal traction.
Thanks to the use of low-level laser, which was introduced in 1993, reduction could be conservatively attained in all the patients and no avascular necrosis of the femoral head occurred in any of the cases.
It is important to make the best attempt to achieve reduction by conservative methods in the treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip. As low-level laser irradiation is nonstimulating, noninvasive, and easy to deliver, and has no adverse effects, it is useful as physical therapy for eliminating soft tissue strain around the hip joint before and after reduction of congenital dislocation of the hip.
