Abstract

In 50 black children with 70 slipped capital femoral epiphyses, a satisfactory result was obtained in 87% of the hips. Chondrolysis developed in 6% of the hips, occurring only when there was persistent intraarticular protrusion of the transepiphyseal fixation device. The chondrolytic process resulted in a relatively painless fibrous ankylosis of each hip. Avascular necrosis developed in 7% of the hips, and occurred only in the presence of a valgus reduction of an acute slipped epiphysis. Each case of avascular necrosis was of the whole-head type and was severely progressive. Biplane subtrochanteric femoral osteotomy was employed as a reconstructive procedure in the severely-displaced slipped epiphysis; it was delayed until after epiphyseal plate closure, and restored satisfactory hip function in all cases. Black children are not predisposed to poor results after slipped capital femoral epiphysis contrary to a commonly held impression.