Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) is a common paediatric disorder with documented racial predilection. No data exists regarding the Australian indigenous and Australian non-indigenous populations. This study provides a comprehensive demographic and epidemiologic analysis of SCFE in South Australia, with emphasis on establishing associations between increasing obesity and incidence. A demographic review of all cases of SCFE managed in South Australian public hospitals between 1988 and 2007 was performed. Clinical presentation, surgical management and complication profile information was collected. Given that obesity is implicated in the biomechanical causation of SCFE due to increased shearing forces, particular emphasis was placed on gathering weight, race, gender and age data. A profile of the incidence and nature of SCFE was generated. Comparisons were then drawn between this profile and existing epidemiologic percentile data of weight, age and gender in South Australia. A rising prevalence of obesity in South Australia corresponded with a rising incidence of SCFE. However, this relationship was not linear as the incidence of SCFE has doubled in the last 20 years and the average weight of SCFE patients has increased markedly. The indigenous population was found to have higher rates of obesity than the non- indigenous population in South Australia. The indigenous population also has a relative risk of developing a SCFE of over three times the non-indigenous population. The overall rate of complications in South Australian public hospitals was low, with avascular necrosis being recognised in our profile. The rise in incidence of SCFE in South Australia; especially noticeable in the indigenous population is associated with an increasing prevalence of obesity. The considerable morbidity associated with SCFE was confirmed in our analysis and further highlights the importance of public health initiatives to tackle obesity in our community

Purpose of Study:. In situ fixation with cannulated screws, is the most common surgical management of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis. Surgeons are wary of the consequences to the epiphysis with any manipulation of the hip. The purpose of this study, was to evaluate the use of a single cannulated screw, inserted with imaging done in the standard AP position, and gentle positioning for a frog lateral X-ray, and the risk of slip progression. Description:. A retrospective radiological review was done on 18 patients between the ages of 9–14 treated for unstable slips from 2006–2014. All patients were treated with a single partially threaded, cannulated screw inserted from the anterior aspect of the neck perpendicular to the epiphysis. Intraoperative imaging included an AP image, and thereafter the hip was gently abducted and externally rotated for a frog lateral view. Radiological comparison of the preoperative, postoperative and subsequent follow up X-rays was done. Follow up ranged from 6 months to 8 years. Results:. Radiographs showed no significant slip progression post op. Conclusion:. Gentle positioning for a frog lateral image during screw placement, and a single screw technique appears to be a safe in the management of unstable slips in Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

The risk of AVN is high in Unstable Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) and the optimal surgical treatment remains controversial. Our AVN rates in severe, unstable SCFE remained unchanged following the introduction of the Modified Dunn Procedure (MDP) and as a result, our practice evolved towards performing an Anterior Open Reduction and Decompression (AOR) in an attempt to potentially reduce the “second hit” phenomenon that may contribute. The aim of this study was to determine the early surgical outcomes in Unstable SCFE following AOR compared to the MDP. All moderate to severe, Loder unstable SCFEs between 2008 and 2022 undergoing either an AOR or MDP were included. AVN was defined as a non-viable post-operative SPECT-CT scan. Eighteen patients who underwent AOR and 100 who underwent MPD were included. There was no significant difference in severity (mean PSA 64 vs 66 degrees, p = 0.641), or delay to surgery (p = 0.973) between each group. There was no significant difference in the AVN rate at 27.8% compared to 24% in the AOR and MDP groups respectively (p = 0.732). The mean operative time in the AOR group was 24 minutes less, however this was not statistically significant (p = 0.084). The post-reduction PSA was 26 degrees (range, 13–39) in the AOR group and 9 degrees (range, -7 to 29) in the MDP group (p<0.001). Intra-operative femoral head monitoring had a lower positive predictive value in the AOR group (71% compared to 90%). Preliminary results suggest the AVN rate is not significantly different following AOR. There is less of an associated learning curve with the AOR, but as anticipated, a less anatomical reduction was achieved in this group. We still feel that there is a role for the MDP in unstable slips with a larger remodelling component

Despite recent advances in the management of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), controversy remains about the treatment of choice for unstable slips. Surgical dislocation and open reduction has the advantage of identifying and preserving the blood supply of femoral head thereby potentially reducing the risk of avascular necrosis, (AVN). There is large variation in the literature from several small series about reported AVN rates ranging from two to 66% for unstable SCFE treated with surgical dislocation. The aim of our study was to analyze our experience with acute open reduction and internal fixation of unstable acute and unstable acute on chronic slips using the technique of surgical dislocation described by Professor Reinhold Ganz.

A retrospective review of 11 patients (12 hips) treated by surgical dislocation, reduction and pinning as the primary procedure for unstable acute and unstable acute on chronic SCFE in a tertiary referral children's hospital was undertaken. This represents the entire series treated in this manner from September 2007 to January 2018. These procedures were performed by a team of Orthopaedic surgeons with significant experience performing surgical dislocation of the hip including patients with chronic SCFE, Perthes' disease, impingement and acetabular fractures. Demographic data, intraoperative records, postoperative notes and radiographs including details of subsequent surgery were reviewed.

There were seven boys and four girls with mean age of 13.4 years, range 11 to 15 years at the time of surgical dislocation. Out of 12 hips, two had acute unstable slip while the remaining 10 had acute on chronic unstable slip. Six patients had good or excellent results. The remaining six patients developed AVN of which three patients had total hip replacement at six months, 17 months and 18 months following primary procedure. Seven patients required more than one operation. Three patients lost their correction and required re fixation despite surgical dislocation, reduction and fixation being their primary procedure.

This series demonstrates a high percentage of AVN (50%) in severe unstable SCFE treated with surgical dislocation despite careful attention to retinacular flap development and intra operative doppler studies. This is in direct contrast to our experience with subcapital reorientation with surgical dislocation in stable slips where excellent results were achieved with a low rate of AVN. Pre-operative imaging with MRI and perfusion studies may identify where ischemia has occurred and might influence operative treatment. Based on our results, we do not recommend routine use of surgical dislocation in unstable SCFE. This technique requires further scrutiny to define the operative indications in unstable SCFE.

To identify the incidence of sequential slip of the unaffected hips in patients presenting with unilateral SCFE managed with prophylactic fixation or observation.

A retrospective review of all unilateral SCFE treated during 1998 to 2012 was undertaken. The study compares the incidence of sequential slip of the initially unaffected hip in patients managed with prophylactic fixation or observation. The study also reports the incidence avascular necrosis, chondrolysis, and metal-work related problem in this group of patients. All patients included in this current work have at least 12 months of follow-up from the index slip.

A total of 44 cases had prophylactic fixation of the unaffected hip (mean age 12.6 years,) and 36 patients managed with regular observation (mean age 13.4 years). Sequential slip of the unaffected hip was noted in a total of 10 patients (28 %) managed with regular observation and only in 1 patient (2%) managed with prophylactic fixation. A Fishers exact test showed significantly high incidence of sequential slip in unaffected hips when managed by regular observation (p-value-0.002). There is no evidence of avascular necrosis or chondrolysis in the unaffected hip in both groups, 3 patients had metalwork related problem and one had superficial wound infection in prophylactic fixation group.

Simultaneous prophylactic fixation of the unaffected hips significantly reduces the incidence of sequential slip. This is a relatively safe procedure and should be advocated in all cases of unilateral SCFE to avoid potential complications and preserve function of the unaffected hip.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is traditionally treated with in situ fixation using a threaded screw, leading to physeal arrest while stabilizing the femoral head. Recently, there has been interest in alternative methods of fixation for SCFE, aiming to allow growth and remodelling of the femoral neck postoperatively. One such option is the Free Gliding SCFE Screw (Pega Medical), which employs a telescopic design intended to avoid physeal compression. The objective of this study is to evaluate radiographic changes of the proximal femur following in situ fixation using the Free Gliding SCFE Screw.

This study retrospectively evaluated 28 hips in 14 consecutive patients who underwent in situ hip fixation using the Free Gliding SCFE Screw between 2014 and 2018. Initial postoperative radiographs were compared to last available follow-up imaging. Radiographic assessment included screw length, articulotrochanteric distance (ATD), posterior sloping angle (PSA), alpha angle, head-neck offset (HNO) and head-shaft angle (HSA).

Of the 28 hips reviewed, 17 were treated for SCFE and an additional 11 treated prophylactically. Average age at surgery was 11.7 years, with an average follow-up of 1.44 years. Screw length increased by 2.3 mm (p < 0.001). ATD decreased from 25.4 to 22.2 mm (p < 0.001). Alpha angle decreased from 68.7 to 59.8 degrees (p = 0.004). There was a trend towards an increase in HNO (p = 0.07). There was no significant change in PSA or HAS. There were three complications (two patients with retained broken guide wires, and one patient requiring screw removal for hip pain).

With use of the Free Gliding SCFE Screw, there was evidence of screw expansion and femoral neck remodelling with short-term follow-up. More research is required to determine the long-term impact of these changes on hip function, and to aid in patient selection for this technology.

A group of UK paediatric surgeons (the UK SCFE Study Group) convened to design pertinent trials in slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), twelve centres across the UK reviewed the demographics and management of children with SCFE.

At all contributing centres with digital PACS records, a search for terms relating to SCFE were performed. From the results, radiographs and electronically stored clinic letters were assessed to confirm the diagnosis and ascertain age at presentation, incidence of bilaterality, chronicity, stability, management and complications.

A total of 601 SCFEs presented between 2007 and 2012 to the twelve units. The mean age at presentation was 12.5 years. The left hip was nearly twice as commonly involved compared to the right (R: L = 3.3: 5.1), with bilateral presentation in 22% of patients. The most common mode of presentation was acute-on-chronic. Stable slips were over twice as common as unstable. The most common intervention was percutaneous pinning in situ. Open reduction was required in 24% of cases. The commonest complication was osteonecrosis (10.5%).

This data concurs with earlier smaller audits and highlights current demographics and contemporary management of SCFE throughout the UK and informs the subject and content of potential future randomized control trials.

In 2000, Reinhold Ganz developed a surgical technique for treating slipped capital femoral epiphysis using his surgical hip dislocation approach to facilitate anatomical reconstruction of the slipped epiphysis—reportedly, without risk of avascular necrosis. This technique is now being adopted cautiously in paediatric orthopaedic centres internationally.

The technique will be described and early results presented. Complications and their treatments will also be discussed.

Early experience suggests morbidity following the procedure is not insignificant and until more corroborating safety data is available, the author suggests this technically demanding surgery should only be offered to children whose significant deformity would otherwise result in childhood disability.

Unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) has an increased incidence of avascular necrosis (AVN). The purpose of this study was to determine if early identification and intervention for AVN may help preserve the femoral head.

We retrospectively reviewed 48 patients (50 hips) with unstable SCFE managed between 2000 and 2014. Based on two different protocols during the same time period, 17 patients (17 hips) had a scheduled MRI between 1 and 6 months from initial surgery, with closed bone graft epiphysiodesis (CBGE) or free vascularised fibular graft (FVFG) if AVN was diagnosed. Thirty-one patients (33 hips) were evaluated by plain radiographs. Outcomes analysed were Steinberg classification and subsequent surgical intervention. We defined Steinberg class IVC as failure in treatment because all of the patients referred for osteotomy, arthoplasty, or arthrodesis in our study were grade IVC or higher.

Overall, 13 hips (26%) with unstable SCFE developed AVN. MRI revealed AVN in 7 of 17 hips (41%) at a mean of 2.5 months postoperatively (range, 1.0 to 5.2 months). Six hips diagnosed by MRI received surgical intervention (4 CBGE, 1 FVFG, and 1 repinning due to screw cutout) at a mean of 4.1 months (range, 1.3 to 7.2 months) postoperatively. None of the 4 patients treated with CBGE within two months postoperatively progressed to stage IVC AVN. The two patients treated after four months postoperatively both progressed to stage VC AVN. Radiographically diagnosed AVN occurred in 6 of 33 hips (18%) at a mean of 6.8 months postoperatively (range, 2.1 to 21.1 months). One patient diagnosed with stage IVB AVN at 2.4 months had screw cutout and received CBGE at 2.5 months from initial pinning. The remaining 5 were not offered surgical intervention. Five of the 6 radiographically diagnosed AVN, including the one treated with CBGE, progressed to stage IVC AVN or greater.

None of the 4 patients with unstable SCFE treated with CBGE within 2 months post pinning developed grade IVC AVN, while all patients treated with other procedures after 2 months developed IVC or greater AVN. Early detection and treatment of AVN after SCFE may alter the clinical and radiographic progression.

Introduction

Hips following in-situ pinning for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) have an altered morphology of the proximal femur with cam type deformity. This deformity can result in femoroacetabular impingement and early joint degeneration. The modified Dunn procedure allows to reorientate the slipped epiphysis to restore hip morphology and function.

The childhood hip conditions of Developmental Dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease and Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis have a wide spectrum of anatomical outcomes following childhood treatment; ranging from morphologies, which result in normal hip function throughout life, to severely deranged morphologies, which result in pain and disability during childhood and adolescence. Some of these outcomes are as a result of well-intentioned interventions that result in catastrophic complications. In 2003, after years of working with impingement complicating periacetabular osteotomies and building on the work of William Harris, Reinhold Ganz published his concepts of ‘cam’ and ‘pincer’ hip impingement, and how these anatomical morphologies resulted in hip arthritis in adulthood. These concepts of impingement were added to his previous published work on hip instability to provide a comprehensive theory describing how hip arthritis develops on the basis of anatomical abnormalities. Surgical techniques have been developed to address each of these morphological pathologies. Ganz's concepts of hip impingement and instability may be applied to severe paediatric hip deformities to direct reconstructive joint preserving surgery to both the femur and the acetabulum. Ganz's surgical approaches have also been refined for use in paediatric hip surgery to allow radical reshaping salvage osteotomies to be performed on the developing femoral head with minimal risk of the devastating consequence of vascular Necrosis

Introduction. Patients presenting with osteoarthritis as late sequelae following pediatric hip trauma have few options aside from standard Total Hip Replacement (THR). For younger more active patients, Hip Resurfacing Arthroplasty (HRA) can be offered as an alternative. HRA has been performed in the United States over the past decade and allows increased bone preservation, decreased hip dislocation rates versus THR, and potential to return to full activities. Patients presenting with end-stage hip arthritis as following prior pediatric trauma or disease often have altered hip morphology making HRA more complicated. Often Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP) patients present with short, wide femoral necks, and femoral head distortion including coxa magna or coxa plana. There often can be acetabular dysplasia in conjunction with the proximal femoral abnormalities. Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) patients have an alteration of the femoral neck and head alignment, which can make reshaping the femoral head difficult. In particular, the femoral head is rotated medially and posteriorly, reducing the anterior and lateral offset. We present a cohort of 20 patients, with history of a childhood hip disorder (SCFE or LCP), who underwent HRA to treat end-stage arthritis. Fifty percent had prior pediatric surgical intervention at an average age of 11. Method. After Institutional Review Board approval, data was reviewed retrospectively on patients with pediatric hip diseases of SCFE and LCP who underwent HRA using the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) by a single orthopaedic surgeon at a teaching institution. Harris Hip Scores (HHS), plain radiographs and blood metal ion levels were reviewed at routine intervals (12 months and annually thereafter). Those who had not returned for recent follow-up were contacted via telephone survey for a modified HHS. Results. Twenty patients had mean follow up of 2.8 years (range 1–7 years). Twelve had LCP and 8 SCFE. Median implant duration was 2.4 years. One-year metal ion testing revealed median chromium level of 2.3 ppb and median Cobalt level of 1.5 ppb. At one-year follow up, plain radiographs demonstrated all patient implants to be well-fixed, without radiolucent lines or osteolysis. Two patients at three and five-year follow-up exhibited heterotopic ossification. Mean HHS for LCP at 6 weeks post-operative was 88, and 98 at one year. Mean HHS for SCFE at 6 weeks post-operative was 77.5, and 98.6 at one year. LLD was significantly improved with an average pre-operative LLD of 12.6 mm and post op of 2.6 mm (p-value <0.001). At most recent follow-up, all retained their implants with overall average HHS of 98. Conclusion. At minimum of one-year following HRA, an increase in functional outcomes is found in patients who underwent HRA for osteoarthritis associated with LCP and SCFE with a mean HHS of 98. No increase was found in complications including femoral neck fracture or implant loosening despite technical challenges of the procedure related to proximal femoral morphologic abnormalities, or presence of acetabular dysplasia [Fig 1]