Between January 1979 and October 1984, 31 congenitally dislocated hips in 19 patients were treated using open reduction via the medial approach, as described by Ferguson, at the Ankara University Faculty of Medicine. Patient age at operation ranged from 3 to 33 months (mean 12.1 months). The average follow-up was 94.7 months. All hips were evaluated both radiographically and clinically. Avascular necrosis of the femoral head was observed in 9.7% and slight, transient ischaemic radiographic changes of the femoral head in 22.6% of the hips; 25.8% of the hips have already undergone or are due to undergo subsequent surgery due to an insufficient radiographic result. The medial approach was found to be a reliable procedure for infants who have not had extensive previous conservative treatment and who are between 7 and 18 months of age.