Current practice in the management of acute/unstable slipped capital femoral epiphyses in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands: results of a survey of the membership of the British Society of Children's Orthopaedic Surgery and the Werkgroep Kinder Orthopaedie

Abstract

A questionnaire was sent to all members of the British Society for Children's Orthopaedic Surgery and the Werkgroep Kinder Orthopaedie to identify points of agreement/disagreement on the management of the acute unstable slip of the upper femoral epiphysis and to compare these European results with those from a similar North American survey. Sixty-five per cent responded. Overall, both countries evaluated cases similarly and believed in their urgent management. Sixty-six per cent did not reposition the slip. Significant differences were observed in attitude towards single screw usage, prophylactic pinning and metalwork removal both between the two countries and in comparison with North America.