In situ pinning of hip for stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis on a radiolucent operating table.

Abstract

Patients with stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) usually can ambulate at the time of diagnosis. Satisfactory results have been reported after percutaneous in situ pinning using a fracture table. The authors describe a technique to determine the skin-pin entry point for percutaneous pinning of the hip on a regular radiolucent operating table. The pin entry point determined by this modified method was reliable in 15 SCFEs in 13 patients. Pinning on a regular radiolucent table was much easier, without the need to transfer obese patients to a fracture table. It was also useful when a bilateral pinning procedure was performed using single draping. Obtaining modified frog-leg lateral radiographs in patients with a stable SCFE was not associated with avascular necrosis or chondrolysis.