Outcome and Femoral Head Deformity Following Hip Guided Growth in Children With Cerebral Palsy at Skeletal Maturity
Journal
Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics
ISSN
0271-6798
1539-2570
Date Issued
2025-04-03
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Guided growth of the proximal femur, a minimally invasive procedure for coxa valga, shows promising short-term outcomes in cerebral palsy (CP). However, as it alters physis growth, existing studies lack comprehensive long-term analysis until skeletal maturity.
Methods: This retrospective study included children with spastic CP who underwent proximal femur-guided growth surgery between 2012 and 2017, followed until physeal closure. Radiographic measurements included head-shaft angle (HSA), Hilgenreiner-epiphyseal angle (HEA), acetabular index (AI), Reimer's migration percentage (MP), and α angle. Outcomes were compared between ambulatory/nonambulatory (GMFCS I-III/IV, V) and with/without soft tissue release. Factors associated with earlier physeal closure and femoral head deformity were analyzed.
Results: Among 29 patients (53 hips) with guided growth studied at skeletal maturity, 4 patients (6 hips, 11.3%) experienced procedure failure and required varus osteotomy due to severe deformities. It was more common in GMFCS IV-V patients (27.3%, 3/11) than in GMFCS I-III (5.6%, 1/18). In the remaining 25 patients (47 hips), 7 hips (14.9%) received concomitant pelvic osteotomy with AI and MP evaluated separately. All radiographic parameters improved significantly (P<0.001). Epiphysis grew off the screw in 25 hips (53.2%), requiring reinsertion in 19 (40.4%), with a higher rate in nonambulatory children (73.3% vs. 25%, P=0.002). Changes of the parameters showed no difference between ambulatory/nonambulatory (GMFCS I-III/IV, V) and with/without soft tissue release. The cumulative duration of screw crossing the physis was a key factor for earlier closure (P<0.001) and correlated with increased α angle (P=0.039).
Conclusion: Guided growth successfully improved outcomes in both ambulatory and nonambulatory groups, although less effective in severe dysplasia. This minimally invasive procedure has some concerns, including the epiphysis growing off the screw, reinsertion need, earlier physeal closure, and femoral head deformity.
Subjects
cerebral palsy
coxa valga
femoral head deformity
hip-guided growth
long-term
physeal plate
SDGs
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Type
journal article