Windswept hip deformity in children with cerebral palsy: a population-based prospective follow-up.

PURPOSE: To analyze the development of windswept hip deformity (WS) in a total population of children with cerebral palsy (CP) up to 20 years of age, the association between WS and hip dislocation, and femoral varus osteotomy and scoliosis, and the impact of a hip surveillance program on the subsequent incidence of WS.

METHODS: This is a prospective study on children with CP in southern Sweden included in the Swedish follow-up programme and registry for CP (CPUP). All children born between 1990 and 1995 with CP were included; those born between 1990 and 1991 did not partake in the hip surveillance program until they were older (3-5 years of age) and served as a historic control group. Children born between 1992 and 1995 were included in the hip surveillance program from about 2 years of age and constituted the study group.

RESULTS: In the control group, 12 of 68 children (18 %) developed WS. In the study group of 139 children, 13 (9 %) developed WS (p = 0.071). Of all 25 children with WS, 21 also developed scoliosis and 5 developed a hip dislocation. The number of children with WS starting in the lower extremities was significantly lower in the study group (p = 0.028). No difference between the two groups was seen regarding WS that started in combination with scoliosis.

CONCLUSION: With early inclusion in a hip surveillance program and early treatment of contractures, it appears possible to reduce the frequency of WS starting in the lower extremities.