Necrosis of the capital femoral epiphysis and medial approaches to the hip in piglets.

Abstract

In an attempt to produce necrosis of the femoral head, the medial femoral circumflex vessels were disrupted in 13 normal piglet hips through a medial approach. Femoral heads were recovered 3-6 months (average 4.2 months) postoperatively. None of these hips showed gross, radiographic, or microscopic evidence of necrosis. This demonstrates that necrosis, which may occur after the medial approach in the hip of a child, is not due to the direct damage to the medial femoral circumflex vessels.