Early and late results of Brackett's operation for pseudarthrosis of the neck of the femur in infantile coxa vara. A review of 30 operations.

The early and late results of 30 Brackett operations for pseudarthrosis of the neck of the femur are reviewed. The cause of the pseudarthrosis in 28 hips was congenital or infantile coxa vara. The patients' ages at the time of the operation ranged from 2 to 43 years. The early results were good. Only three out of a total of 30 cases failed to unite; 27 hips became stable. Necrosis of the femoral head occurred in six hips. Late results, on average 13 years after the operation, differed greatly from the early results. The majority of the hips were stable but only three completely painless. All but four were affected by secondary osteoarthritis which in six cases was slight.