Colonna Capsular Arthroplasty in Congenital and Pathologic Dislocations of the Hip: Some Long Term Results and a Retrospective Review

Choy, Won Sik; Lee, Duk Yong; Kim, Yang

Abstract

From 1963 to 198I, we have performed Colonna's capsular arthroplasty on 7 children. Three of the hips had congenital dislocations and four hips had pathologic dislocation. The results on these cases, including some long term follow-up were satisfactory. Since Colonna first published his technique in 1932 ideal indications for the classical arthroplasty have largely been replaced by those of more recently developed procedures such as Salter's innominate osteotomy, Chiaris osteotomy and etc. We feel, however, that there still seems today a narrower, but distinct domain of usefulness left for the capsular arthroplasty, and that new indications need to be redefined. We propose the following criteria for such purpose. First, congenital dislocations of the hip in children beyond 6 years of age, which is the upper age limit of Salter's innominate osteotomy, and below 8 years of age, which is the upper age limit o original Colonna's capsular arthroplasty. Second, teratogenic congenital dislocations in which the shallow and slanted acetabulum renders otherwise stable, deeply seated acetabulum with a prospect for a concentric remodelling unlikely. Third, pathologic dislocations secondary to septic hip in children 3 to 8 years of age in which a pain-free, stable and reasonably mobile hip often betrays rentgenographic imaginations and renders reconstructive procedures in adult life feasible.