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For more than 100 years, congenital dislocation of the hip has been an area of concern in orthopedics. This publications on the subject are al most too numerous to count. Yet our knowledge of the basic principles of congenital hip dislocation and its management is constantly being expanded by new research. In Germanspeaking countries, Kaiser pub lished the last comprehensive textbook on congenital hip dislocation in 1958, and Schlegel followed with a comprehensive handbook in 1961. In the Angloamerican world, Coleman´s monograph was pub lished in 1978, Somerville´s in 1982, and Wilkinson´s in 1985. In 1982 Tachdjian compiled a volume on congenital hip dislocation that con tained contributions from 44 authorities. The purpose of the present book is to provide an overview of our pre sent state of knowledge of congenital hip dislocation, covering basic principles, diagnosis, methods of closed and open treatment, and indi cations. In the process, an attempt is made to trace progress in the field from its beginnings to the present time. Many authors describe the diagnosis and treatment of congenital hip dysplasia and dislocation in terms of specific age groups. We believe it is more prudent to take an individualized approach based on arthro graphic findings and the degree of severity of pathologic changes. Less emphasis is placed here on the management of patients by age group.

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Reinhard Graf, Prim. Univ. Prof. Dr., ehem. ärztlicher Direktor, Allgemeines und Orthopädisches Landeskrankenhaus Stolzalpe.

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