Femoroacetabular impingement after slipped upper femoral epiphysis: the radiological diagnosis and clinical outcome at long-term follow-up

J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2012 Nov;94(11):1487-93. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.94B11.29569.

Abstract

Deformity after slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE) can cause cam-type femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and subsequent osteoarthritis (OA). However, there is little information regarding the radiological assessment and clinical consequences at long-term follow-up. We reviewed 36 patients (43 hips) previously treated by in situ fixation for SUFE with a mean follow-up of 37 years (21 to 50). Three observers measured the femoral head ratio (FHR), lateral femoral head ratio (LFHR), α-angle on anteroposterior (AP) and frog-leg lateral views, and anterior femoral head-neck offset ratio (OSR). A Harris hip score < 85 and/or radiologically diagnosed osteoarthritis (OA) was classified as a poor outcome. Patients with SUFE had significantly higher FHR, LFHR and α-angles and lower OSR than a control group of 22 subjects (35 hips) with radiologically normal hips. The interobserver agreement was less, with wider limits of agreement (LOA), in hips with previous SUFE than the control group. At long-term follow-up abnormal α-angles correlated with poor outcome, whereas FHR, LFHR and OSR did not. We conclude that persistent deformity with radiological cam FAI after SUFE is associated with poorer clinical and radiological long-term outcome. Although the radiological measurements had quite wide limits of agreement, they are useful for the diagnosis of post-slip deformities in clinical practice.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Femoracetabular Impingement / diagnosis*
  • Femoracetabular Impingement / diagnostic imaging
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Hip Joint / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Observer Variation
  • Osteoarthritis, Hip / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteoarthritis, Hip / etiology*
  • Prognosis
  • Radiography
  • Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses / complications*
  • Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses / diagnostic imaging