There is a line of argument concerning the method of treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip, which is to-day being forgotten. I desire to review it because it opposes the reduction of the dislocation by any kind of forcible manipulation, and perhaps will tell against manipulation where but moderate force is used.
In 1899 I reported, at the New York meeting of the American Orthopedic Association, thirteen manipulative reductions; of these one is an anatomic and functional success, one is probably an anterior subluxation because of interposed capsule between the head and acetabulum, one was an anatomic success, but became ankylosed after an exploratory incision and consequent infection. Two of these have been verified by very recent, or comparatively recent, examination. The ankylosed one has passed from observation. There is nothing to add to the statement then made of the failures to maintain reduction in the other cases.