Derotational Femoral Osteotomy With Either Percutaneous Osteotomy and Intramedullary Nailing or Open Approach and Plating - a Randomized Controlled Trail

Introduction:

Gait deviations in children may be caused by excessive femoral anteversion (AV). This rotational deformity is usually self-limiting but is a common cause of parental concern. Femoral anteversion is an inward twisting (rotation) of the femur. Excessive femoral anteversion causes the patients knees and feet to turn inwards and have a "pigeon-toed" appearance. The AV angle can be measured in the transverse plane by a line through the centre of the femoral head and neck and a tangential line across of the posterior femoral condyles. In the majority of cases of increased femoral AV, normalization occurs spontaneously during growth.

Persisting excessive femoral torsion after the age of 8 years may lead to tripping and anterior hip and knee pain. Recent studies have shown that increased internal rotation is a risk factor for patellofemoral instability and may result in patellofemoral contact pressure.

There are no studies supporting conservative treatment with physiotherapy or braces. Femoral derotational osteotomy is the gold standard to correct symptomatic patients with increased femoral AV. Several techniques have been described and there is no clear evidence in the literature supporting which surgical technique or implant that should be used (3). Traditionally these patients are treated with an open osteotomy and plate and screw fixation. In recent years intramedullary nailing with adolescent interlocking nail has been described both for rotational osteotomies and femoral fractures. With a lateral trochanteric entry point this has been shown to be a safe method. Percutaneous osteotomy and intramedullary nailing is considered a less invasive technique compared with open osteotomy and plate and screw fixation.

Study aims: