Acetabular retroversion in post slipped capital femoral epiphysis deformity

Purpose

While the femoral deformity in post slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) hips has been implicated in the development of femoral acetabular impingement, little has been studied about the acetabular side. The purpose of our study was to determine the frequency of morphologic changes suggestive of acetabular retroversion in patients who have sustained a SCFE.

Methods

IRB approval was obtained and the records of patients from 1975 to 2010 were searched for ICD-9 codes for SCFE. A total of 188 patients were identified for the study. Two observers evaluated AP radiographs for evidence of acetabular retroversion as characterized by the presence of either an ischial spine sign or a crossover sign. Demographic data, date of onset, and treatment were recorded. For analysis, the right hip was used in patients with bilateral involvement.

Results

Of the 188 patients identified, 5 patients had an incorrect diagnosis and 41 patients had missing or inadequate films, leaving 142 patients (284 hips) for review. 57 patients (114 hips) had bilateral SCFE and 85 patients had unilateral SCFE. 79 % (n = 45) of the right hips with bilateral SCFE and 82 % (n = 70) of the unilateral involved hips had at least one sign of retroversion. Uninvolved hips had at least one sign of retroversion 76 % (n = 65) of the time.

Conclusions

When compared to previously published values for normal patients, patients with SCFE appear to have an increased incidence of acetabular retroversion.     

Risk factors for early symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement following in situ fixation of slipped capital femoral epiphysis

In situ fixation of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) results in residual deformity that can cause femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). It is unknown what factors could help differentiate patients who are more likely to become symptomatic. We performed a retrospective review of 55 hips treated with in situ pinning for SCFE and subsequent secondary deformity correction procedure for symptomatic FAI and compared them to 39 asymptomatic hips with SCFE deformity using multivariable analysis. Case patients were slightly older than controls (12.6 vs 11.3 years, p = 0.0002) but had similar BMI. The mean epiphyseal-diaphyseal angle was 56° in cases versus 44° in controls (p = 0.0019). Cases were significantly more likely to have obligate external rotation with hip flexion, external foot progression, flexion <90°, antalgic limp, and Trendelenburg lurch. On radiographs, most cases had a head-neck offset ≤0 mm, a distinct metaphyseal corner prominence, acetabular retroversion, and an alpha angle ≥60°. Most controls also had head-neck offset ≤0 mm. Pre-pinning, older age (OR = 1.98 per year, p = 0.0016) and initial epiphyseal-diaphyseal angle (OR = 1.04 per degree, p = 0.018) significantly increased the odds of having symptomatic FAI. Post-pinning, external foot progression increased the odds of symptomatic FAI by 10.48 (p = 0.017), and an alpha angle ≥60° resulted in 11.4 times higher odds of symptomatic FAI (p = 0.011). The linear correlation between epiphyseal-diaphyseal and alpha angle was poor (r = 0.28). Older age and initial epiphyseal-diaphyseal pre-pinning mildly increased the odds of eventual symptomatic FAI. This information can help the surgeon to predict which patients may develop symptomatic FAI.     

Subcapital callus resection for slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Surgical Principles The lateral approach is routinely combined with an osteotomy of the greater trochanter. We resect the newly formed callus located at the anterior, posterior and caudal aspect of the femoral neck distal to the epiphysis. No shortening of the femoral neck results from this procedure. One can safely avoid a vascular injury by performing a careful dissection, since the posteriorly reflected articular capsule containing the nutrient vessels to the head is detached from the femoral neck like a banana peel. The resection manoeuvre is performed next to the physeal plate of the slipped epiphysis. After callus resection, reduction of the femoral head by longitudinal traction and internal rotation of the limb is easy. The aim is complete correction of the slippage. When there is excess physeal cartilage, we resect it with a curette and then the head is fixed using 2 screws. Revised Version from: Operat. Orthop. Traumatol. 4 (1992), 77–85 (German Edition).     

Evidence based treatment for unstable slipped upper femoral epiphysis: Systematic review and exploratory patient level analysis

The management of slipped upper femoral epiphysis is controversial and evolving as insight into the condition develops. Loder introduced the concept of slip stability and demonstrated a strong association between poor outcome and instability. Almost half of patients with unstable slip developed femoral head osteonecrosis. This has been influential in surgeons' choice of treatments. Some surgeons have adopted a minimal intervention approach such as pinning in situ or gentle reduction and pinning whereas others advocated an urgent open reduction and stabilisation of slip using various surgical techniques. In this review we analysed the influence of various interventions, timing of surgery and severity of the slip on the outcome of unstable slip.     

The oblique plane deformity in slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Background

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is commonly treated with in situ pinning. However, a severe slip may not be suitable for in situ pinning because the required screw trajectory is such that it risks perforating the posterior cortex and damaging the remaining blood supply to the capital epiphysis. In such cases, an anteriorly placed screw may also cause impingement. It is also possible to underestimate the severity of the slip using conventional radiographs. The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate a novel method for calculating the true deformity in SCFE and to assess the interobserver and intraobserver reliability of this technique.

Methods

We selected 20 patients with varying severity of SCFE who presented to our institution. Cross-sectional imaging [either axial computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans] and anteroposterior (AP) pelvis radiographs were assessed by four reviewers with varying levels of experience on two occasions. The degree of slip on the axial image and on the AP pelvis radiographs were measured and, from this, the oblique plane deformity was calculated using the method as popularised by Paley. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to determine the interobserver and intraobserver reliabilities between and amongst the raters.

Results

The interobserver reliability for the calculated oblique plane deformity in SCFE ICC was 0.947 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.90–0.98] and the intraobserver reliability for the calculated oblique plane deformity of individual raters ranged from 0.81 to 0.94. The deformity in the oblique plane was always greater than the deformity measured in the axial or the coronal plane alone.

Conclusion

This method for calculating the true deformity in SCFE has excellent interobserver and intraobserver reliability and can be used to guide treatment options. This technique is a reliable and reproducible method for assessing the degree of deformity in SCFE. It may help orthopaedic surgeons with varying degrees of experience to identify which hips are suitable for in situ pinning and those which require surgical dislocation and anatomical reduction, given that plain radiographs in a single plane will underestimate the true deformity in the oblique plane.

Level of evidence

Level II diagnostic study.     

Inter-observer and intra-observer agreement in the radiographic diagnosis of avascular necrosis of the femoral head following slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Introduction  

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a common pediatric hip disorder. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is a devastating complication of SCFE. The frequency of this complication reported in the literature has been variable. It was the objective of this study to estimate the inter- and intra-observer agreement between two experienced pediatric orthopaedic surgeons for the radiographic diagnosis of AVN following SCFE.     

Bone remodeling of a femoral head after transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy for osteonecrosis associated with slipped capital femoral epiphysis: a case report

A rare case of a 12-year-old boy on whom a joint-preserving operation for osteonecrosis after slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) was performed, is described. Firstly, in situ pinning was performed for acute-on-chronic SCFE. However, osteonecrosis and collapse of the femoral head occurred at 7 months after surgery. Secondly, transtrochanteric rotational osteotomy (TRO) was performed against progression of the collapse of the femoral head. Eight years of X-ray observation revealed bone remodeling at the osteonecrotic region. No documentation has been reported about the potential of bone remodeling of a femoral head with osteonecrosis after SCFE. This case indicates that a joint-preserving operation such as TRO is capable of promoting bone remodeling in such circumstances.     

The association of HLA-DR4 antigen with juvenile chronic arthritis and slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Seventeen children who met the criteria for juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) were reviewed. Throughout the study, the clinical examination, HLA phenotyping, and radiological assessment of the hips were performed by separate authors who were blinded to other data. At the end of the study, the results were also compared with 25 healthy, age- and sex-matched children. Six of the children with JCA also had radiological signs of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE; five with minimal slip pattern, one with moderate slip), and five of them had DR4 in their genotypes, in contrast to the remaining 11 patients who did not (p < 0.001). On the other hand, only 2 of 25 children in the control group had DR4 (p < 0.01). The difference was not significant when the patients without SCFE were compared with the control group (p = 1.0). The relative risk of cases with DR4 antigen for SCFE was 57.5, while it was below 1 for the other antigens. These results suggest that although DR4 is not specific for JCA, it is the common HLA antigen for those who have SCFE, and patients with JCA and HLA-DR4 antigen should be examined for evidence of SCFE, which was not reported before to exist with JCA. Received: 31 October 2000     

Complications at screw removal in slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated by cannulated titanium screws

Introduction: Various modes of fixation are proposed for the treatment of slips of the capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). We describe our experience with the use and removal of a new, cannulated titanium screw (Asnis III, Stryker^®, Howmedica). Patients and methods: Single cannulated titanium screws had been inserted in 101 hips of 65 patients in the 3-year period from 2001 to 2003. These pins were used for in situ fixation of minor chronic slips in 41 patients and for prophylactic fixation on the contralateral side in patients with open physis in 60 patients. Results: The insertion of these screws was achieved without any real problem. The mean surgical time was 25 min (13–46 min). Problems came up when we started to remove the pins. Hardware retrieval was attempted in 27 patients with 43 pins. The mean surgical time for removal was double the average time of insertion with 51 min (26–107 min). The hexagonal Allen sockets proved to be too weak to overcome the necessary torque for loosening the pin from bone and applying the reverse-cutting-force, necessary to extract the pin. Eleven patients needed extensive chiselling. Two adolescents sustained a subtrochanteric fracture 5 and 7 weeks after hardware removal. Seven pins could not be totally removed. Conclusion: Due to the considerable disadvantages encountered in our series we conclude that Asnis III cannulated screws should be suspended from further use in SCFE.     

The results of downgrading moderate and severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis by an early Imhauser femur osteotomy

Purpose  

Patients with moderate and severe slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) develop osteoarthritis earlier in life in association with mechanical impingement.     

Severe slipped upper femoral epiphysis; fish osteotomy versus pinning-in-situ: An eleven year perspective

PurposeSlipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE) is not common with a reported incidence of 10 per 100 000. The management of SUFE is controversial and evolving, with advancing surgical skills and expertise. The infrequency of cases, the various classifications in use, the various surgical treatments, and lack of robust evidence for outcomes, has resulted in the lack of clear, evidence-based recommendations for treatment. Although mild slip can be treated with pinning-in-situ (PIS) with predictably good outcome, moderate and severe slips present a challenge for the treating surgeons. It is logical to reduce the slip to near anatomical position; however, this desire has always been tempered by concerns about the potentially devastating complications of osteonecrosis and ChondrolysisMethodsThis is a single centre, retrospective study comparing (PIS) and Fish femoral neck osteotomy. Seventy four children presented with SUFE (90 hips). The mild and the moderate groups were treated with a single pining-in-situ (PIS). The severe group had either a surgical reduction by Fish femoral neck osteotomy or PIS. The study was approved by the regional and local ethic committee. Demographic data, clinical findings, radiographic features were collected.ResultsAvascular necrosis of the femoral head (osteonecrosis) was the primary outcome. There were 11 cases of osteonecrosis (12.2%): 3/41(6.9%) in the stable group compared to 7/22 (31.8%) in the unstable group, statistically significant [P < 0.001]. In the severe slip group, the osteonecrosis rate was 33.3% in the PIS group and 26.6% in the Fish osteotomy (P = 0.539). This is not statistically significant, but the trend favours surgical reduction.ConclusionsThen reduction of the deformity is valuable. The majority of cases that do not suffer osteonecrosis will benefit by reduction of the deformity; those who are destined to develop osteonecrosis are still better off with the femoral head in a reduced position. The unstable slip is more likely to be severe and more likely therefore to receive surgical reduction than a stable and less severe hip. The implication here is that the osteotomy might not be the cause of the osteonecrosis; it is the vascular damage due to the instability of the slip that is responsible.     

Controversies in management of slipped capital femoral epiphysis

The traditional treatment of the hip with a slip of the capital femoral epiphysis has been an in situ fixation using a single screw.This has the sanctity of a long term result.Recent literature stresses the outcomes of failure to restore the upper femoral alignment and on the basis of the poor results makes a plea for capital realignment.This being a recent development,it lacks the support of long term follow up and it remains to be seen if this is a better alternative of managing displaced and unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis.The authors look at some of the available literature on the subject to highlight these controversies and their implications for orthopedic surgeons.Other controversies pertain to contralateral fixation,duration of immobilization and amount of weight bearing after an in situ fixation.     

Prospective evaluation of in situ screw fixation for stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis

Purpose:We aimed to determine which variables were associated with persistent symptoms or need for further surgery in patients treated with in situ fixation for stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis. We hypothesized that patients with greater proximal femoral deformity would require revision surgical intervention.Methods:We prospectively collected data on stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis patients who underwent in situ screw fixation at a single institution. Demographic and radiographic information, as well as patient-reported outcomes, were collected.Results:Forty-six patients (54 hips) with an average follow-up of 3.5 years (range: 2.0–8.5) and mean pre-op Southwick slip angle of 40.5° ± 19.4° were studied. We observed one complication following the index procedure (2%). Twelve hips (22%) went on to have a secondary procedure 2.7 ± 2.2 years after the index surgery. Severe slips were 14.8× more likely to undergo a secondary procedure than mild and moderate slips (p < 0.001). We found no correlation between slip severity and patient-reported outcomes (p > 0.6). Hips requiring a secondary procedure had significantly lower Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome scores (76.8 ± 18.4) at final follow-up compared to hips that did not require additional surgery (86.8 ± 15.7) (p = 0.042).Conclusion:With minimum 2-year follow-up, 22% of patients required a secondary surgery. Patient-reported outcomes did not correlate with slip severity, but were found to be significantly higher in slipped capital femoral epiphysis patients that did not require a secondary procedure. Prophylactic treatment of all slip-related cam deformity was not found to be necessary in this prospective cohort. Patients with moderate-to-severe slips may require secondary surgery.Level of Evidence:Level II     

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: etiology and treatment

Progression of slip is apt to cause complications including osteonecrosis and osteoarthritis. Such complications result in a poor prognosis for the joint. Therefore, to diagnose slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) while it is still mild is important to avoid complications as well as to prevent further slippage. In Japan, as the number of obese patients increases, obesity seems to be involved in the onset of slip both biomechanically and endocrinologically. We need to take care of obese children as they comprise a reservoir for SCFE patients. For severe slip cases, treatment is difficult owing to significant deformity of the femoral head with or without such complications as osteonecrosis and osteoarthritis. Transtrochanteric anterior rotational osteotomy is a promising option for preventing further slippage as well as to improve the congruity of the joint.Presented at the 76th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, Kanazawa, Japan, May 25, 2003     

Long-term outcome of slipped capital femoral epiphysis: a 38-year follow-up of 66 patients

Purpose  

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of different methods of treatment in slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), to find risk factors for poor outcome, and to assess whether prophylactic fixation is indicated.     

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) detected in a chiropractic office: a case report

Objective

To report on a case of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), which is a somewhat rare condition but one that can present in a chiropractic clinic, particularly one with a musculoskeletal scope of practice.

Case

This is a single case report of a 16-year-old adolescent male patient who presented with an 18-month history of hip pain. Radiographs originally ordered by the patient’s family physician were read by the medical radiologist as “unremarkable.” The family physician diagnosed the patient with tendonitis.

Treatment

After reviewing the radiographs and examining the patient, the chiropractor suspected a SCFE that was confirmed with a repeat radiographic examination. The patient was referred back to his family physician with a diagnosis of SCFE and recommendation for orthopedic surgical consultation. The patient was subsequently treated successfully with surgical reduction by in situ pinning.

Conclusion

The prognosis for the SCFE patient when diagnosed early and managed appropriately is good. The consequences of a delay in the diagnosis of SCFE are an increased risk of further slippage and deformity, increased complications such as avascular necrosis and chondrolysis and increased likelihood of degenerative osteoarthritis of the involved hip later in life. The diagnosis and appropriate management of SCFE is where the chiropractor has an important role to play in the management of this condition.     

Continued growth of the hip after fixation of slipped capital femoral epiphysis using a single cannulated screw with a proximal threading

Background  

The most commonly used method for unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) remains in situ fixation. Depending on the surgeon’s preference, screws or Kirschner wires are used for stabilizing the slipped upper femoral epiphysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a single cannulated screw with a proximal threading to ensure stabilization, growth, and remodeling of the slipped epiphysis.