If inadequate acetabular coverage of a femoral head does not resolve
spontaneously, acetabuloplasty can be performed to correct it. An
understanding of what type of patient is likely to benefit from this
procedure will lead to better timing of the operative intervention. In this
review of 152 acetabuloplasties, four factors were found to adversely
influence the effects of the operation: age of nine years or older,
subluxation or dislocation of the femoral head, deformity of the femoral
head, and restricted range of hip motion. Based on these data, we recommend
observing the inadequately covered hip for spontaneous improvement in
coverage until the age of eight years, except in patients with subluxation
or in those with worsening of femoral head deformity or progressively
decreasing range of motion.