[Growth disturbances of the upper femoral extremity: Contribution to knowledge of normal growth in therapeutic trails].

The authors have studied the growth disturbances of the upper femoral extremity in several pathological conditions. They recall that in normal hips there is one single growth plate for the cephalic nucleus and the greater trochanter. On a functional standpoint this plate can be divided into three areas. -- Disturbances in the trochanteric area lead to coxa-valga. -- Disturbances in the cephalic area lead -- Either to a downward slip of the femoral head if the lesion is medial, -- or to a coxa vara without trochanteric ascension if the lesion is more lateral. -- Disturbances in the transitional area lead to coxa valga with ascending trochanter. The growth of the cephalic area is twice more important than that of the trochanteric area as demonstrated by the study of the growth-arrestment lines. Surgical conclusions are drawn according to the type of disturbance.