The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Vol 60, Issue 7 899-904, Copyright © 1978 by Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc
The acute effect of position of immobilization on capital femoral epiphyseal blood flow. A quantitative study using the hydrogen washout technique
PL Schoenecker, M Bitz and LA Witeside
Quantitative studies of femoral head blood flow by the hydrogen washout
technique with the hips in various positions of immobilization were
determined. Immobilization in flexion consistently resulted in the highest
rate of femoral head blood flow. A position of relaxed abduction seemed to
slightly, but significantly, decrease the rate of blood flow. The position
of forced frog-leg abduction and forced internal rotation obliterated or
drastically reduced circulation in the femoral head. We think that the
ischemia of forced acute immobilization is secondary to compression of the
immature cartilaginous femoral head. These experimental data further
indicate the importance of the selected position of immobilization in the
treatment of congenital dislocated hips as a cause of iatrogenic avascular
necrosis.