Longitudinal Improvement of Quality of Life in Children With Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease Treated With Proximal Femoral Varus Osteotomy.

Background: Proximal femoral varus osteotomy (PFVO) is commonly performed to improve femoral head containment and decrease deformity in Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (LCPD). Little is known about how PFVO impacts the quality of life after surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the longitudinal changes to patient-reported physical, mental, and social health measures after PFVO.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) data from 20 patients with unilateral LCPD treated with a PFVO. We collected seven PROMIS measures (mobility, anxiety, fatigue, depressive symptoms, pain interference, anger, and peer relationships) before and approximately 1, 3, 8, 12, and 18 months after surgery. We compared PROMIS scores across different time points using repeated measures ANOVA and multiple pairwise comparisons with Tukey adjustment. The relationship between presurgery and postsurgery mental health scores was analyzed using a Spearman correlation.

Results: The mean age at PFVO was 8.2 ± 1.6 years. The mean length of follow-up was 17.0 ± 2.1 months. There was a significant improvement in the mobility score between preoperation and 12 months (P=0.0031) and 18 months postoperation (P<0.0001). Anxiety scores significantly improved from preoperation and 18 months postoperation (P=0.0014). A significant reduction in the pain interference score between preoperation and 12 and 18 months postoperation (P<0.0001) was observed. Peer relationships significantly improved from one month postoperatively to 18 months postoperation (P=0.0355). Individual variations were also observed with some patients having elevated depressive symptoms and anxiety scores. Moderate correlations between preoperative and postoperative anxiety and depressive symptoms scores were observed.

Conclusions: PROMIS mobility, anxiety, pain interference, and peer relationship scores improved significantly after PFVO. While the mean anxiety, depressive symptoms, peer relationships, and anger scores were in normal ranges at each visit, individual variations with elevated anxiety and depressive symptom scores were observed. This new longitudinal PROMIS data will better inform patients and families about the quality of life and recovery experience after PFVO.

Level of evidence: Level IV-therapeutic study.