[Late results of Imhäuser's osteotomy for slipped capital femoral epiphysis (author's transl)].

The author has reviewed the clinical and radiological results of 55 patients 11 to 22 years following an Imhäuser three dimensional intertrochanteric osteotomy for slipped capital femoral epiphysis. 13 additional patients responded by questionnaire. Of these 68 hips 66 were painfree and functional. One patient complained of pain (due to coxarthrosis proven by x-ray). A second patient was dissatisfied with the functional range of his hip. 40 of the 55 hips which were examined clinically and radiologically had full range of motion, 10 hips showed minimal and 5 hips significant limitation of motion. Radiologically 73% of the 55 hips examined were rated excellent or good, 27% showed beginning degenerative changes (including one patient with marked coxarthrosis). The results were greatly influenced by the severity and direction of slipping, preoperative treatment and the accuracy of operative correction. This study permits the conclusion that three dimensional intertrochanteric osteotomy prevented or at least delayed the development of degenerative changes in the majority of cases. It is possible that many of these patients will not develop coxarthrosis.