Displacement of Upper Epiphysis of Femur Treated by Open Reduction

Since December, 1921, and up to Jan. 1, 1924, seven cases of displacement of the capital of the femur have been treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital by open operative reduction. So little is known of the etiology and pathology of this condition that it seems desirable to report these cases and the operative findings, and also to describe the operative procedure that was employed, together with the results obtained. In all seven cases the lesion was of the type to which the term slipping epiphysis has been applied. The trauma responsible for the injury was of a mild character, and, in every case except one, had been preceded for a variable period by symptoms referred to the hip. Usually, there was a history of a slip or fall, followed by transient pain and lameness, or of intermittent pain brought about by repeated slight traumas. Then, after several weeks