Risk-benefit analysis of prophylactic pinning in slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

There is a broad and controversial discussion about the surgical procedure and the type of hardware for internal transfixation of the epiphysis and metaphysis in slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Prophylactic pinning is even more controversial. One hundred and nine patients showing SCFE underwent a one-stage bilateral fixation of the epiphysis with three or four Kirschner wires (pins). From these 109 patients (69 male and 40 female), 94 had an unilateral slip and were operated prophylactically on the contralateral side. There were no complications such as avascular necrosis of the femoral head, chondrolysis, bone fracture, failure of metal implant, osteomyelitis or deep wound infection either at the time of surgery or at the minimum follow-up of 1 year with prophylactic pinning in SCFE. Therefore, we consider pinning allows for efficient stabilization, reliably preventing any progression of SCFE on the affected side and, furthermore, prevents the incidence of a secondary slip on the primarily nondisplaced contralateral side. The transfixation of epiphysis and metaphysis with Kirschner wires (pins) shows good subjective and objective long-term results compared with other surgical methods and implants. There is only a low morbidity rate with this method, because reoperations may only become necessary in the younger age group owing to normal growth of the femoral neck, compared with a high benefit from prophylactic surgical treatment of the nonaffected opposite side at the time of unilateral onset of the disease. The pins may no longer catch the epiphysis but further growth will allow for remodeling of the femoral head and for an optimal neck/shaft ratio. In case of further growth and relative shortening of the pins, refixation may become necessary. Therefore, we like to recommend the Kirschner-wire transfixation (pinning) of the epiphysis and metaphysis in patients with SCFE for primary treatment of SCFE as well as for prophylactic pinning of the contralateral side in one sitting.