Bone endoscopy: direct visual confirmation of cannulated screw placement in slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Abstract

Intraosseous endoscopic examination of the femoral neck and head was performed during the course of percutaneous screw fixation in 12 patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Visualization was satisfactory in 13 hips of these patients. We were able to distinguish trabecular bone and physeal cartilage endoscopically. Evidence of articular penetration was documented endoscopically in two patients. One patient had been referred for persistent hip pain and chondrolysis 6 months after screw insertion. Chronic joint penetration was observed endoscopically at the time of revision operation. In the second patient, transient pin penetration was visualized during cannulated screw fixation of a severe slip.