Transposition of the greater trochanter of the femur during growth.

The indications for surgical treatment of coxa vara were laid down in our establishment on the basis of biomechanical considerations and from 1963 to 1979, 52 transpositions of the greater trochanter were carried out during growth, i.e. at the age of 7-16 years. We treated only those patients where transposition of the greater trochanter was carried out as the only intervention on a hip, regardless of previous hip operations. Apart from the mechanical elements the conditions of enchondral ossification of the femoral head and the greater trochanter were taken into consideration in the indications. In our material stability of the pelvis was achieved in 73.07% of the cases operated on, and in preserved enchondral ossification of the femoral head we succeeded in enlarging the collodiaphyseal angle in 86.53% of all cases. According to our results, we consider the optimal age for the operation to be between the age of 8 and 11. We do not recommend transposition of the greater trochanter in cases of dysplastic acetabulum. It was our wish to include in our observations the most important biomechanical elements. The results of functional and morphological conditions following surgery were considered basing the indications on the causative factor of the origin of coxa vara.