Percutaneous triplanar femoral osteotomy correction for developmental coxa vara: a new technique

Developmental coxa vara (DCV) is a well-known pediatric hip disorder that is associated with triplanar deformity of the proximal femur. Several techniques of proximal femur osteotomies have being cited in the literature, with variable outcomes. Recently, the authors have used a percutaneous technique with application of a low-profile Ilizarov external fixator for acute opening wedge correction of the femoral deformity associated with DCV. Five children (six affected hips) underwent the above procedure at an average age of 8 + 4 years. The average improvement in Hilgenreiner's epiphyseal angle was from 74 degrees before surgery to 33 degrees after surgery, the neck-shaft angle improved from 86 degrees to 137 degrees, and the articulo-trochanteric distance improved from -6 mm to +11 mm. Latest follow-up at a mean of 2.1 years after surgery showed satisfactory healing with no significant loss of correction in any case. This percutaneous technique offers several advantages over currently available methods for surgical correction of DCV.