Three-dimensional analysis of the proximal femur in patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis based on computed tomography.

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) analysis based on computed tomography was performed to study the 3D geometry of the proximal femur in cases of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). For this purpose, new interactive software was developed to analyze hip joint geometry using 3D models without pelvis tilting and projected errors. Twenty-two patients, 8 girls and 14 boys, with a total of 30 slipped capital femoral epiphyses, were reviewed. In the affected hips, we observed a reduced femoral anteversion of 7.0 degrees (vs. 12.7 degrees) and a reduced femoral shaft neck angle of 134.2 degrees (vs. 141.0 degrees). In response to these results, we suggest that an SCFE is associated with reduced femoral anteversion and a reduced femoral shaft neck angle.