The reported prevalence of an asymptomatic slip
of the contralateral hip in patients operated on for unilateral slipped
capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is as high as 40%. Based on a population-based
cohort of 2072 healthy adolescents (58% women) we report on radiological
and clinical findings suggestive of a possible previous SCFE. Common
threshold values for Southwick’s lateral head–shaft angle (≥ 13°)
and Murray’s tilt index (≥ 1.35) were used. New reference intervals
for these measurements at skeletal maturity are also presented. At follow-up the mean age of the patients was 18.6 years (17.2
to 20.1). All answered two questionnaires, had a clinical examination
and two hip radiographs. There was an association between a high head–shaft angle and
clinical findings associated with SCFE, such as reduced internal
rotation and increased external rotation. Also, 6.6% of the cohort
had Southwick’s lateral head–shaft angle ≥ 13°, suggestive of a
possible slip. Murray’s tilt index ≥ 1.35 was demonstrated in 13.1%
of the cohort, predominantly in men, in whom this finding was associated
with other radiological findings such as pistol-grip deformity or
focal prominence of the femoral neck, but no clinical findings suggestive
of SCFE. This study indicates that 6.6% of young adults have radiological
findings consistent with a prior SCFE, which seems to be more common
than previously reported. Cite this article:
We describe the results at five years of a prospective study of a new tri-tapered polished, cannulated, cemented femoral stem implanted in 51 patients (54 hips) with osteoarthritis. The mean age and body mass index of the patients was 74 years and 27.9, respectively. Using the anterolateral approach, half of the stems were implanted by a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and half by six different registrars. There were three withdrawals from the study because of psychiatric illness, a deep infection and a recurrent dislocation. Five deaths occurred prior to five-year follow-up and one patient withdrew from clinical review. In the remaining 51 hips the mean pre-operative Oxford hip score was 47 points which decreased to 19 points at five years (45 hips). Of the stems 49 (98%) were implanted within 1° of neutral in the femoral canal. The mean migration of the stem at five years was 1.9 mm and the survivorship for aseptic loosening was 100%. There was no significant difference in outcome between the consultant and registrar groups. At five years, the results were comparable with those of other polished, tapered, cemented stems. Long-term surveillance continues.
