Moderate and severe SCFE (Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis) arthroscopic osteoplasty vs open neck osteotomy—a retrospective analysis of results

Aim We intend to compare the outcomes of arthroscopic osteoplasty with open neck osteotomy for correction of the hip impingement and improvement of hip function in children with moderate to severe healed Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE). Our aim is to verify if arthroscopic osteoplasty could achieve the same outcome as open procedures. Patients and methods A retrospective analysis of the hospital hip database retrieved 187 cases of SCFE from 2006 to 2013. We found 12 patients underwent open neck osteotomy and deformity correction for moderate/ severe healed SCFE and ten underwent arthroscopic osteoplasty of the hip. We compared the outcomes between these groups. Results In the arthroscopy cohort, the mean age at surgery was 15.8 years (range 13–19 years) and mean follow-up was 46.1 months (range 33–66 months). In the neck osteotomy group, the mean age at surgery was 14.6 years (11–20 years) and mean duration of follow-up was 49 months (36–60 months). The outcomes in arthroscopic osteoplasty group vs. open neck osteotomy were as follows: antero-posterior (AP) slip angle 9.2° (0.3°- 28.8°) vs 10.8° (1°–17.9°) ( p = 0.0003), lateral slip angle 44.8° (36.5°–64.2°) vs 13.5° (1°–28.5°) ( p = 0.00001), oblique plane deformity 47.1° (40.2°–53.5°) vs 16.7° (1°–28.6°) ( p = 0.0003), alpha angle 61.88° (52.1°–123°) vs.34.6° (23.2°–45.6°) ( p = 0.0003), anterior offset 0 mm (0 mm–2 mm) vs. 5 mm (2–13 mm) ( p = 0.0003), modified Harris hip score (MHHS) 75.5 (58.75–96.8) vs. 90 (86.2–99) ( p = 0.003), non-arthroplasty hip score (NAHS) 67.12 (18.75–100) vs. 92.1 (81.25–100) ( p = 0.002), internal rotation 20° (0–20°) vs. 50° (30°–70°) ( p = 0.0002), respectively. Conclusion Even though the radiographic correction lagged behind in the arthroscopic group, the functional outcomes achieved did convey the gain of function in this cohort. In carefully selected cases, arthroscopy could be a less invasive procedure which has desirable outcomes.