Fifty-six hips in 48 consecutive patients operated on for congenital dysplasia of the hip during the years 1971 through 1986 were evaluated for an average follow-up period of nine years (range, two-21 years). Twenty-three percent of the patients were treated with revision to total hip arthroplasty by the time of follow-up examination. The average time before revision was 8.6 years. All but three of the remaining hips were rated good or excellent (72%). These patients tended to have minimal or no preoperative degenerative joint disease. Complications included one subtrochanteric fracture, two cases of loss of fixation, and one superficial wound infection. The authors conclude that the operation provides predictable, high-quality results in those patients with minimal or no degenerative changes preoperatively. In those patients with mild or moderate degenerative changes, it may forestall the onset of severe symptoms by several years.