Is there a persistent capital femoral epiphysis growth after screw fixation for slipped capital femoral epiphysis?

Abstract

Femoral neck screwing during child development is controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the residual growth of the capital femoral physis after screw fixation. This retrospective study included children aged younger than 12 years treated for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) with a single percutaneous partially threaded cannulated screw. The children were followed up for at least 1 year. Some patients also underwent prophylactic contralateral screwing. Preoperative, immediate postoperative and final follow-up X-rays were evaluated to determine the degree of slippage, pin-joint ratio (PJR), neck-pin ratio (NPR), number of threads crossing the physis, neck-shaft angle (NSA), screw-physis angle and screw position in the physis. We included 17 patients (29 hips: 18 SCFE and 11 prophylactic) with a mean age of 10.1 years (range: 7.1-11.9 years) at the time of surgery. Significant evolution of radiological growth parameters of the proximal femoral physis was noted during a mean follow-up of 2.4 years (range: 1-4.3 years). The mean PJR significantly decreased from 7.3 to 6.0, the mean NPR significantly decreased from 106 to 96 and the mean number of threads beyond the physis decreased from 3.3 to 1.8. The mean NSA decreased by 6.5°, from 139° to 132.5°. Persistent capital femoral epiphysis growth occurs after screw fixation. The NSA significantly decreases over time but remains within the physiological limits. Level of evidence: IV (case series).