In situ pinning in slipped capital femoral epiphysis: long-term follow-up studies

BACKGROUND: Management of moderately displaced slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is debated, mostly because of the risks related to open reduction on one hand, and subsequent evolution toward femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) on the other. METHOD: All SCFE cases treated with in situ fixation (ISF) and a minimum of ten years of follow-up beyond skeletal maturity were analysed in a retrospective multicentre study. Coxometry parameters were measured. Long-term results of ISF were meanwhile analysed at our Institution. RESULTS: A total of 222 patients were included. Patient reported outcome measurements were related to the severity of the initial slip. It suggested a 35.5° threshold for slip angle beyond which FAI was more frequent. Only slight remodelling at the head-neck junction is to be expected. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, it seems reasonable to perform ISF only in SCFE with a slip angle below 35°.