Continued Growth of the Femoral Neck Leads to Improved Remodeling After In Situ Fixation of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis.
BACKGROUND
Globally, the most common method for in situ fixation of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a threaded screw, which causes physeal arrest. The standard treatment in Sweden is unthreaded fixation using the Hansson hook-pin, which leads to continued growth of the femoral neck. Our purpose was to study remodeling during the remaining growth after fixation with the Hansson hook-pin.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective study of 54 patients with SCFE who were treated with the Hansson hook-pin between 2001 and 2009. The immediate postoperative radiograph and the radiograph taken after physeal closure (mean interval, 34 mo) were analyzed. Three radiographic assessments were used: the head-shaft angle (HSA), the alpha angle (Nötzli), and the displacement from Klein's line.


RESULTS
Significant remodeling was detected in all measured parameters. The mean postoperative HSA decreased by 9.0 degrees (P<0.001). The alpha angle improved by a mean of 14.5 degrees (P<0.001). Significant correlations were found between the reduction of the alpha angle and age (P<0.001, R=0.48) and longitudinal growth of the femoral neck (P<0.001, R=0.67). Displacement from Klein's line increased by a mean of 1.6 mm (P=0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
Unthreaded fixation of SCFE using the Hansson hook-pin leads to substantial remodeling of the femoral neck. The positive correlation observed between the improvement of the alpha angle and femoral neck growth supports the use of a method that allows continuous growth, to reduce the risk of femoroacetabular impingement.


METHODS
Level III-retrospective comparative study.
Department of Orthopaedics at Skane University Hospital.|Department of Clinicial Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Jakob
J
Örtegren
Department of Orthopaedics at Skane University Hospital.|Department of Clinicial Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Lina
L
Björklund-Sand
Department of Orthopaedics at Skane University Hospital.|Department of Clinicial Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Malin
M
Engbom
Department of Orthopaedics at Skane University Hospital.|Department of Clinicial Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Carl J
CJ
Tiderius
D000293:Adolescent; D001858:Bone Nails; D016723:Bone Remodeling / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D057925:Femoracetabular Impingement / Q000517:prevention & control; D005272:Femur Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D060048:Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*