Slipped capital femoral epiphysis in southern Sweden. Long-term results after nailing/pinning.

One hundred seventy-two patients with 204 slipped capital femoral epiphyses treated with nailing or pinning were evaluated an average of 28 years after surgery. Follow-up evaluation was obtained by questionnaire in 153 cases (181 hips) and by clinical and radiographic reexamination in 132 cases (157 hips). Segmental collapse was seen in four of 179 hips nailed/pinned in situ and in four of 25 hips operated after reduction. This was the only early complication associated with problems at reexamination. Arthrosis was twice as frequent after reduction (53%) than after fixation in situ (24%). The clinical and radiographic results were better than those from the same region after other methods of treatment. Nailing or pinning in situ is the method of choice when possible, regardless of the degree of slipping. Bilateral slipping was found in 67% of the hips; therefore, prophylactic pinning of the contralateral hip is indicated in cases with unilateral slipping.