title: Hardware complications related to the surgical fixation of slipped capital femoral epiphyses.
abstract: Slipped upper femoral epiphysis is a disabling condition with an annual incidence of 2-13 per 100,000. In situ surgical fixation is the preferred initial treatment for both stable and unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) cases. The main aim is to avoid further slippage and complications such as osteonecrosis and chondrolysis. The choice of medical implants in managing this condition has changed along the years from large nail-like devices to cannulated screws. The biomechanical properties of different fixation techniques have been studied. All implants have been associated with complications that can occur intraoperatively as well as in the early and late postoperative periods. This report examines a number of different implants used and identifies complications and ways on how to avoid such complications. It also looks at the complications directly related to medical implants in the management of SCFE. We looked at published literature in peer-reviewed journals describing the use of the different medical implants and the documented complications. We also examined literature that suggests ways on how to avoid and manage these complications. A review of the current literature is presented in this text.
authors.affiliation: Royal London Hospital.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.affiliation: Centre for Orthopaedics, Royal London Hospital, Barts and London Children's Hospitals, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Zacharia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Silk
authors.affiliation: Centre for Orthopaedics, Royal London Hospital, Barts and London Children's Hospitals, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heidari
authors.affiliation: Centre for Orthopaedics, Royal London Hospital, Barts and London Children's Hospitals, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Manoj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
mesh_terms: D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators / Q000009:adverse effects; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D009984:Orthopedic Fixation Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D060048:Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses / Q000601:surgery*