(v) The hip in cerebral palsy

SummaryDeformity and displacement of the hip is the second most common orthopaedic problem to affect children with cerebral palsy. The severity and incidence of hip pathology increases with the severity of cerebral palsy and up to 70% of patients with total body involvement cerebral palsy suffer from hip displacement. Hip deformity can also be problematic in patients who walk as it results in rotational malalignment of the lower limb in gait. Awareness of the problems and appropriate screening permits timely intervention. This may involve management of muscle tone or soft tissue procedures. In more advanced cases of hip displacement and deformity, femoral and pelvic osteotomies are usually required. The goals of treatment range from improving the efficiency of gait to prevention of severe postural problems and pain in the most severely affected.