[Use of the Pavlik harness before the age of 3 months in congenital hip dislocation].
The authors report 128 cases of reduction of congenital dislocation of the hip by the Pavlik harness with more than one year of follow-up. They studied 60 patients who had less than 3 months of age at the beginning of the treatment. They obtain 59 reductions (98%) without necrosis of femoral heads. The only case of unsuccess, treated after by continuous extension, has doubtful femoral heads at 15 months of age. The femoral heads appear in normal delay and walk was normal between 10 and 18 months. Only a strict watchfulness, as strict as a continuous extension, can obtain good results with progressive flexion. Bath is not authorized and harness is not removed before stable reduction. Parents are taught how to hold their infant without bringing his knees together. The most important thing is the X-ray control on D8, D21, and D60, the prevent the trap of too much flexion, too nice penetration or persistent eccentration. Under these conditions, the authors think that the treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip by the Pavlik harness is the safest method especially before 3 months of age.