Progressive coxa valga after childhood excision of the hip abductor muscles.

Abstract

To our knowledge, progressive coxa valga, femoral anteversion, and hip subluxation after surgical resection of soft tissue tumors of the gluteal muscles have not been described. The importance of this paper is to document proximal femoral deformity and hip subluxation in children after tumor resection of the hip abductor muscles, to provide guidelines for diagnosis and management of this problem, and to avoid late complications of progressive joint incongruity. Late deformity was seen in two cases after limb salvage surgery for a soft tissue buttock tumor. In both cases, the gluteus medius and minimus muscles were completely resected and the tensor fascia lata and gluteus maximus were partially resected. The ages of the patients at initial treatment were 4 months old and 5 years old, and both patients were followed for a minimum of 4 years. Valgus deformity was seen as early as 15 months. One patient has had a varus osteotomy to correct severe coxa valga and hip subluxation; the other patient with moderate deformity is being followed clinically and radiographically.