Epiphyseal changes after proximal femoral osteotomy.

This study was conducted to evaluate the risk factors for epiphyseal changes suggestive of osteonecrosis after proximal femoral osteotomy for hip subluxation associated with cerebral palsy. Forty-eight children with 94 hips were reviewed. Two observers rated the radiographs using a written protocol on two occasions each so that reproducibility of these observations could be assured. Concomitant pelvic osteotomy proved to have the greatest association with risk of epiphyseal changes. These findings, suggestive of osteonecrosis, were present in 7 of 68 (10%) hips that had isolated femoral osteotomy, and in 12 of 26 (46%) hips that had concomitant pelvic osteotomy.