Percutaneous screw removal in slipped upper femoral epiphysis

Abstract

Several authors have reported complications from screw removal after treatment of slipped upper femoral epiphysis by single screw fixation, and have attributed poor screw design. We have developed a simple and reliable method of screw removal which uses a cannulated 8.0 mm end-threaded cancellous screw (Smith and Nephew Richards Medical, Memphis, Tennessee) and a specially designed cannulated trephine. The method has been successful, with minimal complications, and a limited surgical exposure.