Acetabular-epiphyseal angle and hip dislocation in cerebral palsy: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: To relate, in non-ambulatory subjects with palsy, Reimers' migration percentage with standardized radiological measurements, including the acetabular-epiphyseal angle.

METHOD: Descriptive, observational and transversal study of 15 individuals with cerebral palsy at levels IV and V of the Gross Motor Function Classification System, aged between 3 and 9 years. Radiological measurements of the acetabular index, Hilgenreiner's epiphyseal angle, acetabular-epiphyseal angle, neck-shaft angle and Reimers' migration percentage of each of the hips were performed.

RESULTS: Correlations between acetabular index, epiphyseal angle and acetabular-epiphyseal angle were obtained with respect to the Reimers migration percentage. For hips with a migration rate of 15% or less, a positive correlation was observed between acetabular and epiphyseal angles.

CONCLUSIONS: In our population, the measurement between acetabular and epiphyseal inclination represents the highest association with the hip migration percentage.