Aims: In some severe lower limb injuries, the level of bone trauma enables preservation of knee joint only if the soft tissues can be reconstructed over the exposed bone. The options for soft-tissue reconstruction of an amputation stump are to use a ßap from the amputated distal part, a local ßap possibly after tissue expansion or a free ßap. Methods: To preserve an adequate length of stump we reconstructed 10 stumps with latissimus dorsi free ßaps: above the knee in one and below the knee in nine. The reconstructions were done during the acute post-traumaic phase in þve and for late problems with the stump in four patients. In one patient the reconstruction was done nine weeks after a below-knee amputation for ischaemic necrosis after septicaemia. Results: All ßaps survived, but the venous anastomosis had to be revised in three patients in the early post-operative period. All patients regained adequate ambulation for their daily activities. The ßap was secondarily debulked in three patients. Conclusions: Every effort should be made to preserve an adequate stump length, particularly in young patients with crushing injuries of the extremities and when there is severe or recurrent late stump ulceration. A latissimus dorsi musculocunaeous soft-tissue reconstruction is reliable and durable option for stump defects

The purpose of this paper is the overview of 92 cases with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (S.C.F.E.), treated in inic within the last 18 years (1985–2003).The paper reports the method of treatment and early complications concerning ischaemic necrosis and chondrolysis. During this time, 80 children with S.C.F.E. aged 10–14 years, were treated in our clinic.Of our patients, 50 were boys and 30 girls.With regard to the degree of the slippage, 59 cases 1st degree, 32 were 2nd degree and 1 was 3rd degree;as regards the type, 63 cases were chronic, 17 acute and 12 chronicacute.They were treated surgically by pinning (use of 2 or 3 Moore-Knowls, Steinmann pins and cannulated screws) while in one case osteotomy of the femoral neck was performed.In 11 cases with 2nd degree slippage, total or partial reduction took place on the surgical table,with mild traction and strong internal rotation of the limb.In addition, in 20 cases cannulation was performed. There has been a follow-up period of 1–10 years after surgery. Complications: In 11 hips (in most of which Steinmann pins had been used) occurred slippage of the material inside the joint and the pin was removed (within 2 weeks).During follow-up no signs of either vascular necrosis or chondrolysis were present, with the exception of one case with 2nd degree S.C.F.E. where reduction was also attempted. In total, 2 cases of chondrolysis occurred, in one of which signs of chondrolysis were present even before surgery, and 2 cases of vascular necrosis.The results were evaluated on clinical criteria (limping, pain, reduction in length, range of movement of hip joint) and radiological criteria (articular space, appearance of the femoral head, neck-femoral angle). Conclusion: It seems to be that any attempt of reduction, even with mild traction, is responsible for serious complications. On the contrary, pin slippage inside the joint does not seem to lead to a poor result, provided that there is early diagnosis and immediate removal of the pin. Finally, it must be stressed that the complications in the 4 cases of either chondrolysis or vascular necrosis, occurred in patients whose weight exceeded by 25–30 % what is normally expected at their age and height

Postdysplastic ischaemic necrosis of the proximal femoral epiphysis has its origin in the vascular crisis during conservative or operative treatment of DDH and in the majority of cases has an iatrogenic origin. The severity of the symptoms and functional disability is dependent on the anatomic changes of the proximal femur and the whole hip joint respectively, which were caused by previous conservative or operative treatment, including repeated surgery. The symptoms such as limping from leg length discrepancy and abductor insufficiency, pain and restricted ROM are less apparent in small children, but become more conspicuous with the approach of the end of growth. For the classification of the patterns of ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, the classification according to Bucholz and Ogden was used. Four principal types of this deformity are recognised. There are three main problems which are to be solved by surgical treatment. 1. The acetabular dysplasia with a pelvic osteotomy 2. Improving the bio-mechanics by distalisation of the greater trochanter and by the lengthening of the femoral neck with or without valgisation 3. Lengthening of the shorter extremity. The decision on the type of surgery to be performed depends on the age of the patient and the severity of the anatomic deformity, as well as the functional disability. A very useful method for treatment was found to be a double intertrochanteric osteotomy with a trochanteric advancement, and almost invariably in combination with a triple or Salter pelvic osteotomy. The lengthening osteotomy of the femoral neck follows the principles of Müller and Wagner. A similar technique was also proposed later by Morscher. My own contribution has been to modify the operation by an oblique execution of the osteotomy, and a method of fixation of the greater trochanter by means of an angle plate – providing a lengthening of the limb by up to 3 cm. In the case of acetabular dysplasia, a pelvic osteotomy should be performed as a first procedure in order to obtain better stability of the hip joint. A femoral osteotomy can follow at a minimal interval of three months. If the femoral osteotomy is performed as a first step without enlargement of the actabulum, there is the risk of further deterioration of the covering of the femoral head, even in a dislocation. This philosophy of treatment of sequel of postdysplastic necrosis has been used since 1979. Up to 1984, we operated on 48 hip joints in 46 patients, 39 girls and 7 boys aged 4 to 21, with a follow- up of at least 15 years. In 12 cases, 10 girls and 2 boys aged 4 to 8, a Salter and valgus osteotomy was performed. Thirty-four patients (29 girls and 5 boys) had a triple pelvic osteotomy, with 2 girls being operated bilaterally. In 22 hips, a lengthening osteotomy of the femoral neck was added as a second stage procedure. Five parameters were used for clinical evaluation: pain, limping, range of motion, Trendelenburg sign, and leg length discrepancy. For radiological assessment, we used an AP X-ray of the entire pelvis taken before and after osteotomy, and also during follow-up. CE angle, Sharp’s angle, ACM angle, and lateralisation were recorded. Hip score was measured on all hips, but we found that CE, Sharp and lateralisation were of greater value. In a group of 12 cases operated on up to the age of 8 by combining Salter and valgus osteotomy, a cementless THR was necessary for a young woman of 25. The remaining 11 patients are up to the present time without any major problems. In a group of 14 patients operated for sequel of postdysplastic necrosis Type II deformity (all with triple pelvic osteotomies and five in combination with femoral neck lengthening osteotomy), all have a normal quality of life, including having natural childbirths. From 22 Type III hip joints in 20 patients operated for sequel of postdysplastic necrosis, a cementless THR was implanted in three cases 14, 17 and 18 years after original surgery. Fourteen patients (15 hip joints − 67%) can be considered as good results without needing to have any therapy. Three patients (4 hips) suffer from degenerative arthritis and are candidates for THR

DDH with or without previous treatment is the most frequent source of early hip OA in adolescents. Others are hip joint deformation following Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, slipped capital epiphysis or trauma. Secondary OA after rheumatoid arthritis, bacterial infection or as result of an hemophilic hip joint are relatively infrequent. The choice of treatment depends on the type of the deformity and the severity of osteoarthritic changes. Osteotomies are favorably performed in adolescents. Arthrodesis is rarely accepted in this age group. In selected individuals THR is the matter of choice. Pain, limping gait, restricted joint motion and sometimes clicking phemomena are the usual complains. Pain is usually aggravated by running and other sports activities. Residual dysplasia of the hip with a spherical femoral head is best treated by a triple periacetabular osteotomy. The Bernese ostetomy of Ganz (. 3. ) and the triple osteotomy of Tönnis (. 9. ) are popular procedures. They mobilise an acetabular fragment, then reorient and stabilise the fragment in an optimal position. Internal fixation with screws provides stability and allows early mobilisation with partial weight bearing. Chiari’s osteotomy is a supracetabular rotatory displacement osteotomy. Femoral head and joint capsule are medialised and covered by the osteomised iliac bone. The joint capsule in the weight bearing zone is transformed into fibrous cartilage by time. Congruent remodelling of the acetabular roof and fibrous tissue transformation into cartilage are biased by inproper height and orientation of the osteotomy (. 5. ). There is still an indication in severe DDH with subluxation of the femoral head and those with a severely deformed femoral head. In pathomorphologies with aspherical femoral heads femoral osteotomies, usually valgus osteotomies, are required additionally in order to optimize the joint congruency. A dysplastic hip in a high dislocation and moderate to severe OA are contraindications. Radiographic work up includes pelvic ap view and faux profil view. Assessment of the anterior and posterior acetabular rim indicate orientation of the acetabulum in terms of anteversion / retroversion. Orientation of the subchondral sclerosis over the femoral head is an indicator of femoral head coverage as CE-angle and AC-angle. 20°–30° abduction view in neutral rotation mimikes the postoperative acetabulum / femoral head relation. From CT-scans acetabular orientation ( ante-version / retroversion ), degenerative bone cysts, posteroinferior joint space and femoral head deformities and femoral neck osteophytes are depicted. Labrum pathology is dedectable by MRT and MRT-arthrography. After treatment of DDH deformation of the femoral head and neck due to ischaemic necrosis develop in an incidence up to 20 %, depending on the method. Premature closure of the epiphyseal plate can also follow trauma, septic arthritis and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. Most often an combination of acetabular dysplasia and coxa magna with short femoral neck and a high-standing greater trochanter are typical deformities. Specchiulli’s classification (. 8. ) is very helpful for deformations after avascular necrosis in DDH. Limping gait due to femoral shortening and insufficient strength of the abductor muscels are the major complains of adolescents. Symptoms exacerbate during walking of longer distances and restrict sports activities. Valgus osteotomy, Y-osteotomy, transfer of the greater trochanter alone or in combination with valgus osteotomy are appropiate methods to restore a better function and improve alignment of the mechanical axis to the knee joint. Femoral neck lengthening osteotomies (. 1. ,. 4. ) with distal-lateral transfer of the greater trochanter are advocated by several authors. Restoration of almost normal anatomy muscle function of the hip joint are realistic aims of these methods. If the abductor muscel deficit is dominant and only a minor leg length discrepancy is in slight deformities, e.g. some Specchiulli’s type B2, we do not always need such complex procedures. Isolated transfer of the greater trochanter also improves the lever arm of the abductor muscles and therefore joint function, but does not influence leg length discrepancy. Disappearance of the Tren-delenburg-type gait is the most visible improvement of this procedure (. 7. ). Total hip replacement (=THR) is rarely indicated in adolescents, but sometimes necessary for restoration of a almost normal quality of life. Especially in severe symptomatic OA after septic arthritis or trauma in some individuals remain only two options : arthrodesis or arthroplasty. Arthrodesis is a permanent solution for many years or even life time. Gait function is compromised remarkable (. 6. ) and specific compensatory mechanisms are adopted when walking. Excessive motion in the lumbar spine and ipsilateral knee provokes back and knee pain as well as osteoarthritic changes on the long run. THR in young patients includes the risk of several revisions over life time , due to wear problems particularly in physically active individuals. A deficient acetabular bone stock as usual in severe acetabular dysplasia or poor bone quality after trauma or septic arthritis may compromize primary stability and secondary osteointegration. Nevertheless functional results and outcome (. 2. ) in terms of life quality are superior compared with various non-substituting procedures

Objectives

Legg–Calvé–Perthes’ disease (LCP) is an idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head that is most common in children between four and eight years old. The factors that lead to the onset of LCP are still unclear; however, it is believed that interruption of the blood supply to the developing epiphysis is an important factor in the development of the condition.