Frejka pillow and Becker device for congenital dislocation of the hip: Prospective 6-year study of 104 late-diagnosed cases

Abstract

During the period 1974–1986, 107 consecutive 1–9 month-old children with late-diagnosed congenital dislocation of the hip (CDH) were treated with a Frejka pillow primarily, followed by a Becker device. Treatment was initially successful in 96 cases with 2 not reduced, 4 failed stabilization, 4 persisting dysplasia, and 1 avascular necrosis. No correlation was found between age at the time of diagnosis or the severity of the dislocation and the duration or the result of treatment. In those initially successful, 14 percent had slight dysplasia 6 months later. The last follow-up, at the mean age of 7 years, excluding the 11 children needing supplementary treatment, showed that 84 percent had normal hips on radiography, based on measurements of the acetabular angles and the center-edge angles. The clinical findings were normal.