An Unusual Complication Seen in a Six-Year-Old Girl Treated with Open Reduction and Pemberton Osteotomy for Neglected Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Femoral Neck Fracture Sustained during Passive Motion under General Anesthesia

Abstract

Despite the screening programs for newborn children with hip ultrasonography, neglected developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is still continuing to be a problem in the east and southeast parts of our country. The main complications are redislocation, avascular necrosis, and joint stiffness. We present an unusual complication, femoral neck fracture during passive motion under general anesthesia, of a six-year-old girl with neglected DDH treated by open reduction and Pemberton osteotomy without femoral shortening. The fracture was treated by open reduction and internal fixation combined with proximal femoral shortening. After 5 years the patient had excellent clinical results, no avascular necrosis was seen, and the radiologic appearance was type IA according to modified Severin classification. In conclusion older children with neglected DDH are more likely to have joint stiffness after open reduction. If there is even a little doubt about joint stiffness after open reduction, one should not refrain from femoral shortening. Also passive motion under general anesthesia should be applied very carefully with fluoroscopic control.