Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

-A Study of Imhäuser's Osteotomy-

Abstract

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is uncommon among children in Japan. We studied 22 cases (26 hips) of this disease, in particular 8 cases (9 joints) treated with Imhauser's osteotomy. All patients were male and ranged in age from 12 to 19 years (mean, 13.9) . Onset was acute on chronic in one case and chronic in seven cases. The postoperative observation period ranged from 2 years 9 months to 13 years 3 months (mean, 5 years 10 months) . The results of Imhauser's osteotomy were satisfactory. Clinically, limp and pain disappeared, and Drehmann's sign became negative. The range of motion of the hip joint improved. The posterior tilting angle ranged from 31 to 60 degrees (mean, 39.9 degrees) before operation. The postoperative posterior tilting angle ranged from 5 to 30 degrees (mean, 13.7 degrees) . Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head did not develop, but chondrolysis developed in one patient after pin traction. For this patient, Imhauser's osteotomy was performed twice, after which the joint space widened and joint motion improved. However, shortening of the left leg occurred and an Ilizarov lengthening operation was performed. In some cases, the correction of slippage was insufficient. For cases with a high degree of slippage, subcapital osteotomy or Sugioka's rotational osteotomy is recommended.