Follow-up Study After Corrective Imhäuser Intertrochanteric Osteotomy for Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

Abstract

We investigated 28 hips in 26 patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis who were treated by the Imhäuser intertrochanteric osteotomy, with subsequent removal of implants. The mean age at operation was 13 years, and the mean age at the time of the final follow-up was 19 years. The physeal stability was unstable for 15 hips and stable for 13. Posterior tilting angle (PTA) ranged from 33° to 72° before operation. PTA became restored to within the allowable range of up to 30° in all patients. The limitation of range of motion completely resolved in all patients, and none had necrosis of the femoral head postoperatively. There was a mean reduction in leg length by 0.7 cm. Four patients had a fracture due to bone fragility from longterm traction and bed rest. Chondrolysis developed in only 1 male classified as an unstable case with an unstable classified as unstable. The Imhäuser treatment system for mild to severe cases may be said to be reasonable in that the physeal stability is rendered stable by traction and then the PTA is reduced to 30° or less by osteotomy to lessen the severity to mild. So, satisfactory results were obtained both clinically and roentgenographically in short- or midterm outcome.