A case of Aitken Classification Type A proximal femoral focal deficiency treated with plate fixation for pseudarthrosis

Abstract

Background

Proximal femoral focal deficiency is a rare congenital anomaly with diverse clinical features and significant treatment challenges.

Case presentation

A female patient was diagnosed with Aitken type A proximal femoral focal deficiency at 1 month of age and surgically managed. She began walking after 17 months. At 34 months, she developed progressive varus and flexion deformities of the femur and complained of thigh pain. At 38 months, we excised the pseudoarthrosis, corrected the deformity, and performed plate fixation. At 4 years, growth suppression surgery was performed on the unaffected left leg. At 7 years, the affected lower limb was 13.5 cm shorter than the contralateral limb, requiring a 12-cm shoe lift.

Conclusions

A patient with Aitken type A proximal femoral focal deficiency presented with pseudarthrosis of the femur and was successfully treated surgically, resulting in thigh pain resolution.