[Southwick osteotomy in stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis: a long-term outcome study].

Objectives: Moderate to severe chronic stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) produce permanent irregularities in the femoral head and acetabulum. We report a single centre long-term outcome study of Southwick's procedure for the management of moderate or severe stable chronic SCFE with irregularity of the femoral head.

Methods: In the period from January 1978 to January 1990, 20 patients (16 girls, 4 boys; mean age 13 years; range 11 to 15 years) underwent 22 Southwick osteotomies for chronic stable SCFE with closure or partial closure of the growth plate and a slip between 30 degrees and 70 degrees .