The effects of trochanteric epiphyseodesis on growth of the proximal end of the femur following necrosis of the capital femoral epiphysis.

Avascular necrosis of the hip was evaluated in two groups of patients. On group had sustained the insult to the epiphysis in infancy and had a mean growth loss in the proximal end of the femur of 21.5 millimeters at a mean age of 11.7 years. The other group had sustained the insult in mid-childhood (due to Legg-Perthes disease) and had a mean growth loss of seven millimeters at 12.4 years. Based on this evaluation, we concluded that trochanteric epiphyseodesis was nary in the latter group.