How does pelvic bracing treat hip dislocation?

It is well known that the treatment of hip dislocations over the age of ten and in adults by traditional methods encounters many difficulties. The surgical trauma and the high percentage of poor outcomes with conventional methods require a more satisfactory approach to this problem. We have used the device developed by the authors to treat chronic hip dislocations using some new techniques. This approach allows to achieve better motor function of the affected limb; to eliminate the shortening of the limb and the Trendenlenburg sign; and to preserve some hip motion. In principle, the proximal femur is reconstructed and used to support the pelvis. The upper part of the femur is placed below the pelvis – inside the acetabulum or below the transverse pubic bone. At the same time the greater part of the rotor is reconstructed. An adequate lever is created between its apex and the reconstructed rotation axis. This leverage between the pelvic support point and the rotor increases the effectiveness of the gluteal muscles enough to prevent the pelvis from tilting to the opposite side when the support point is not present, while compressing the proximal femur to point towards the pelvis. Proximal femoral reconstruction: The completion of this proximal femoral reconstruction requires a hinged osteotomy over the femur to create an outward opening into the angle. The proximal femur (head of the femur) is placed at the midpoint and directed upward based on the distance from the osteotomy point to the pelvic support point. A lengthening osteotomy is performed below the distal femur to overcome the shortening and gradually adjust the end segments to bring the mechanical axis of the limb to normal standards. Obviously, each patient is treated individually according to his anatomical characteristics-dislocation, femoral axis, femoral characteristics, distance of the femur from the acetabulum, and other characteristics. If there is a suitable acetabular apex, we perform a hinge osteotomy at one level, which will create a support for the lesser trochanter or osteotomy or osteotomy apex within the acetabulum or socket recess. When the acetabular roof is incomplete, the lesser trochanter is placed in the acetabulum and the apex of the osteotomy is placed against the acetabular notch or the horizontal branch of the pubic bone. When there is a longitudinally unstable dislocation of the femur, we first relocate the femur down to normal level; then we perform the hinge osteotomy described above.