title: Bilaterally dislocated hips treated with the Pavlik harness are not at a higher risk for failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the Pavlik harness treatment in patients with bilaterally dislocated hips, and to compare them with cases with unilaterally dislocated hips.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-nine patients (58 hips) were identified who presented with bilateral dislocated hips with no earlier treatment and received dynamic ultrasound examination. The comparison group consisted of 38 patients (38 hips) with unilateral hip dislocation treated with the same protocol. Successful treatment was defined as relocation/reduction of the hips within 3 weeks of Pavlik harness application.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen of 29 patients (59%) in the bilateral group (7 bilateral, 10 unilateral) and 22 of 38 patients (58%) in the unilateral group failed the harness treatment. There was no difference in the duration of harness wear for successful patients regardless of presentation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients presenting with bilaterally dislocated hips treated with the Pavlik harness are at no greater risk for failure than patients presenting with unilateral hip dislocation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Nemours Children's Clinic, Wilmington, DE, USA. aborowski@xl.wp.pl
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borowski
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thawrani
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grissom
authors.forename: Aaron G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Littleton
authors.forename: Mihir M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Thacker
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006618:Hip Dislocation, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography