Subcapital Correction Osteotomy for Malunited Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

BACKGROUND:Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), causing posterior and inferior displacement and retroversion of the femoral head, is a well-recognized etiology for femoroacetabular impingement and can lead to premature arthritis in the young adult. The treatment of malunited SCFE remains controversial. Surgical dislocation and subcapital correction osteotomy (SCO) has been described as a powerful method to correct the proximal femoral deformity. METHODS:Between January 2003 and January 2010, 11 patients (12 hips) with closed femoral physes and symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement from malunited SCFE were treated with surgical dislocation and SCO. We performed a retrospective review of patient histories, physical examinations, operative findings, and preoperative and postoperative anteroposterior (AP) and groin-lateral (GLat) radiographs. Mean follow-up was 61 months. RESULTS:There were 4 female and 7 male patients with an average age of 15 years at the time of SCO. On the AP radiograph, the mean inferior femoral head displacement (AP epiphyseal-neck angle) was significantly improved (−26 to −6 degrees, P