Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: reduction as a risk factor for avascular necrosis.

Complication rates after the treatment of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) were retrospectively evaluated to identify possible risk factors. Twenty-six patients with SCFE underwent reduction and fixation with a single screw or multiple wires. The prevalence of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the hip or chondrolysis was 14.8 and 3.6%, respectively. The degree of SCFE (P=0.050) and reduction before the seventh day after the slip (P=0.028) were associated with AVN. The risk factors for AVN were found to be a higher grade of SCFE correction and reduction between the second and the seventh day after SCFE.