The Pros and Cons of a Medial Approach to Abduction

In extreme abduction greater than 60 degrees, avascular necrosis can occur due to impingement of the post-drosupererenacular branch of the medial femoral circumflex artery. You can prevent this via placement of abduction within the safe zone. This is the zone located between the angle of maximal passive hip abduction and the angle of hip adduction. A medial dipole of greater than 7 mm indicates an unstable reduction. Capsulorophy can be performed after a reduction, and this approach is typically used if the patient is greater than 12 months old. As far as types of medial approach, there is the blood-law approach, the Weinstein approach, and the Ferguson approach.