From 1968 to 1972, twenty-three infants under six months old with
twenty-seven dislocated hips were treated with a Pavlik harness. All the
dislocations except three were successfully reduced. Only one child
required hospitalization. All the patients were followed for more than two
years. All but three of the hips were clinically and roentgenographically
normal at follow-up, and none had avascular necrosis. In infants, the
Pavlik harness successfully utilizes the principle of reduction in flexion,
avoiding forced abduction.