[Slipped femoral epiphysis in children under 10 years of age. Clinical and radiologic evaluation of the surgical treatment].

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the postoperative clinical and radiographic results of children under 10 years of age with slipped proximal femoral epiphysis and determine the differences compared to other age groups.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Retrospective study with a minimum follow-up of 2 years; Southwick's angle, treatment, and the rate of contralateral slip were all assessed. The Iowa scale was used for assessment purposes.

RESULTS

A total of 18 patients and 23 hips were reported (5 cases were bilateral), mean age was 8.53 years, and Southwick's angle was 43 degrees. All cases were treated with in situ fixation, with a single screw in 19 hips, Kirschner's nails in 2 hips, and one screw and one nail in one hip; prophylactic fixation was used in one hip. Mean follow-up was 6.9 years. Three cases had contralateral slip occurring 6-13 months after the initial slip. The mean Iowa score was 85.69. A neck-shaft angle of 115 degrees was seen in the final X-ray; there were 3 complications: two cases of avascular necrosis and one chondrolysis.

DISCUSSION: The clinical results were similarly good in this group of patients, who have typically been considered as very difficult to treat. Radiographically, a relatively normal anatomy was seen and only one case showed early arthrosis. The contralateral slip rate was not higher than in older patients.