Coxa Plana, Its Genetic Aspects and Results of Treatment with the Long Taylor Walking Caliper

Abstract

Follow-up studies from five to twenty-six years were made of 129 patients with coxa plana. The patients were treated mainly by ambulation in splints which prevented weight-bearing on the affected hip. This study suggests that the long Taylor walking caliper will prevent deformity of the femoral head just as well as the more drastic methods of bed-rest in splints. The Taylor caliper is a better method of treatment than sling and crutches, as the latter seems to lead to considerable limb-length discrepancy. Since the Taylor caliper allows the child to remain with his parents and to continue imis social and educational development, we believe it is the treatment of choice in patients with unilateral diseasethroughout the course of the disease, and in those with bilateral disease after a period of bed-rest has allowed one hip to heal sufficiently to bear weight.