THE JOURNAL OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY HIP DYSPLASIA WITHOUT DISLOCATION IN ONE-YEAR-OLD BOYS

Six boys were examined during the second year of life, each with symptoms in one hip. The affected femoral capital epiphysis was smaller or more Irregular (or both) than that of the unaffected hip but was neither subluxed nor dislocated. The subsequent radiographs revealed changes similar to those in severe Perthes ’ disease. Nevertheless, we give reasons for believing that this disorder in boys under two years of age should be distinguished from Perthes ’ disease. Pelvic radiographs of healthy children taken during the second year of life usually show well-defined femoral capital epiphyses and symmetry of development be-tween left and right. Symptoms suggesting hip disease and leading to radiological examination rarely occur at this age. Hilgenreiner (1933) and Gickler (1937) reported that radiographs of children examined because of hip symptoms during the second year of life showed delay in development of the affected femoral capital epiphysis but no evidence of dislocation. The subse