STUDY OF DISPLACED CAPITAL FEMORAL EPIPHYSES

¹ Orthopaedic Service, St. Luke's Hospital, New York City; The House of St. Giles the Cripple, Brooklyn, New York

1. An early diagnosis by means of biplane roentgenograms and prompt treatment when hip complaints exist in the adolescent may prevent serious disability from severely displaced capital femoral epiphyses.

2. In slipping of the capital femoral epiphysis, when the deformity is not too great, simple nailing without reduction secures the best results.

3. In cases with acute slipping in which there is a definite trauma to account for the condition, the outlook may be poor and a waiting period after reduction may be necessary before internal fixation is undertaken.

4. Wedge osteotomy of the femoral neck for the more severe displacements in slipped femoral epiphyses presents an excellent outlook if the wedge is removed from the neck entirely, while the head and epiphyseal plate are left intact and a portion of the neck remains attached to the plate.

5. Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head occurred about equally in the series treated conservatively and the series treated by operative methods.

6. The outlook for securing a good or excellent result is greatly improved by the use of internal fixation.

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