Ludloff?s anteromedial approach in disorders other than congenital hip dislocation

We report our results obtained using Ludloff’s anteromedial approach in 17 patients affected by disorders other than congenital dislocation of the hip. These disorders were all localized on the anteromedial aspect of the hip joint and the proximal part of the femur (6 heterotopic ossifications, 3 osteoid osteomas, 2 osteochondromas, 1 aspecific coxofemoral synovitis, 1 chronic epiphysiolysis of the hip, 3 fractures of the femoral head, and 1 malignant fibrous histiocytoma). The treated group comprised 10 males and 7 females with a mean age of 33 years (range, 11–72 years). The anteromedial approach allowed for complete or almost complete removal of the pathological masses, withdrawal of synovial tissue for biopsy purposes, the reduction and fixation of femoral head fractures and even a corrective femoral neck osteotomy. The suitability of this treatment for skeletal disorders has been confirmed by clinical and radiographic controls carried out after a mean period of 7 years (range, 2–10 years).