We report the effects of circumferential capsulotomy on the treatment for hip dislocation in cerebral palsy patients. The former operation method combined with anterior capsulotomy has sometimes showed unsatisfactory concentric reduction and adduction deformity. Since the remaining posterior part of the capsule is suspected to cause incomplete reduction, we introduced circumferential capsulotomy to the open reduction for the hip dislocation of cerebral palsy patients.
Five spastic quadriplegia patients aged 7 to 14 years (3 males and 2 females) were operated by this modified method since April of 1998. The operation involves muscle release, open reduction with circumferential capsulotomy, and femoral osteotomy (detorsion/varus/shortening). 8 to 14 months follow-up study showed satisfactory concentric reduction, and range of abduction.
We are planning to introduce this modified method to ambulatory cerebral palsy patients.