Acute slipped capital femoral epiphysis: the value and safety of urgent manipulative reduction.

A 40-year experience consisting of 91 cases of acute slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) was reviewed to assess the safety of manipulative reduction and to determine whether urgent reduction has an effect on the development of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the capital femoral epiphysis. All patients had a history of sudden onset of severe hip pain and were documented to have an unstable (acute) slipped epiphysis. Treatment modalities included manipulative reduction under general anesthesia followed by internal fixation (41 hips), epiphysiodesis and internal fixation (15 hips), epiphysiodesis and cast immobilization (31 hips), and cast immobilization alone (three hips). One case was treated with cast immobilization after reduction by skeletal traction. Patient follow-up averaged 44 months, and ranged from 12 to 216 months. Radiographic review identified 13 (14%) cases of AVN in the series of 91 hips. Of 42 hips reduced in <24 h from presentation, AVN developed in three (7%). Of 49 hips reduced in >24 h from presentation, AVN developed in 10 (20%). Manipulative reduction of the acute SCFE may be accomplished without increased risk of AVN. Time to reduction may be an important risk factor for development of AVN after acute SCFE.