Se Dong Kim

Treatment of Developmental Dislocation of the Hip in Walking Age

The patients of developmental dislocation of the hip(DDH) are almost found after walking age because of early diagnosis of DDH in younger children is not easy. A controversy still exists as to the relative value of closed and operative management in the treatment of a child who has reached walking age. This study is a report of the results of 16 patients(17 cases) in developmental dislocation of the hip who have visited our hospital at the age of 9 months to 3 years old, and have been followed more than 12 months (12-112 months) on review of plain radiographs and arthrograms. The results were as follows : 1. The age at diagnosis was 16.4 months(9-31 months) in average. The methods of treatment were conservative for 8 cases, and operation for 4 cases and secondary operation for 5 cases who were failed with conservative therapy. 2. By Severins radiologic grade, the result was good in 4 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 1 case in conservative treatment. In operative treatment, fair was in 2 cases and poor in 2 cases. In secondary operative patients who were failed with conservative therapy, good was in 2 cases, fair in 2 cases and poor in 1 case. 3. Avascular necrosis of femoral head was developed in 3 cases. 4. In the good reduction as determined by arthrogram according to Race and Herring, we can get a favorable result in conservative treatment, and in the poor reduction as determined by arthrogram, the better result in operative treatment can be expected.

Percutaneous K-wire fixation of supracondylar fracture of humerus in children

During the period from March 1990 to November 1993, 22 children with diplaced supracondylar fracture of humerus were treated by closed reduction and percutaneous K-wire fixation at department of Orthopaedic surgery in Yeungnam University. All fracture were treated with closed reduction under the general anesthesia and percutaneous pinning. After the fracture was internally fixed, intraoperative anteroposterior reontgenograms of each distal humerus were compared. Only anatomical reduction ensured good result, because the main cause of late cubitus varus was medial tilting of distal fragment. We could follow up 10 patients more than one year. By Flynns criteria, satisfactory result were obtained in 9 of the 10. Unsatisfactory one had a limitation in flexion of elbow joint, but had no problem in cosmetic feature. In short term follow up of 7 patients, 5 patients had a satisfactory result, too. There were no neurovascular complication and hospitalization was shortened to 11.4 days. Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning provided stabillity, vascular safety, simplified management, reduced hospital stay. This is safe and reliable technique for obtaining and maintaining an excellent reduction.