Intertrochanteric osteotomy for the treatment of chronic slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Thirty six patients with a chronic slip of the capital femoral epiphysis and a femoral headneck angle of more than 30 degrees, as measured in a lateral radiograph, were treated by intertrochanteric osteotomy. The patients had an abnormal gait, an average age of 14.1 years and symptoms for an average of 14.5 months. The postoperative complications included two patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head, four with coxa vara and two with loss of position requiring further operation. At an average of 7.5 years after operation 14 were good, 18 fair, and 4 poor on clinical assessment, with 13 good, 19 fair and 4 poor when judged by radiographs. Patients with complications had only fair or poor results. A postoperative head-neck angle of less than 10 degrees indicated a good result.