Is the Acetabulum Retroverted in SCFE? A Study of Acetabular Morphology in Indian Children with SCFE

Acetabular morphology has always been an area of interest in patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Acetabular retroversion in SCFE is proposed as a pre-disposing factor and also can predispose the hip to pincer impingement. But there is controversial data in literature regarding the acetabular morphology. All available data are from the West and we present the first study on acetabular morphology in Indian children with SCFE.

CT scans of 29 patients with SCFE were collected from our database and anteversion was measured as described by Dandachli et al. Lateral central edge angle (LCEA) was measured in the standard AP radiographs of the pelvis. There were 20 boys and 9 girls with a mean age of 13.5. Seven patients had right side SCFE, eighteen had left side SCFE, and four had bilateral involvement. Measurements were done in 33 affected hips and compared with 25 normal hips.

The mean AVsup and AVcen of affected hips were 6.59° and 13.51°, respectively, and that in normal hips were 8.36° and 14.04° (p > 0.05). The mean LCEA was 23.05° on the affected hips and 25.45° on the normal hips (p > 0.05). The AVsup showed retroversion in 24.24% (8/33) of the affected hips and 20% (5/25) of the normal hips. Though the mean version was less in SCFE hips, it was not statistically significant.

Our study documents that 25% of hips with SCFE had acetabular retroversion. However, this was not significantly high compared to the contralateral hips.