Open reduction (Ludloff approach) of congenital dislocation of the hip before the age of two years

The results are presented of experience in early surgical treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip, using the anteromedial approach described by Ludloff. Surgery was performed in 20 hips of 18 children, aged between 3 and 23 months, in whom conservative treatment had failed. Eleven cases were followed up for five to seven years after surgery. In 50% of the hips, additional surgery was required to correct deformities of the femoral neck or of the acetabulum. Early open reduction with the Ludloff procedure has many advantages over more traditional treatment.