Percutaneous transphyseal screw induces varus proximal femoral growth modulation in a growing pig model—A three-dimensional analysis

Bone and joint angular deformities are common pediatric orthopedic problems that are often corrected surgically. Previous studies successfully demonstrated proximal femoral growth modulation in animal models, however outcome measurements were limited by two-dimensional analysis. In this study, six Yorkshire cross male piglets were treated with unilateral percutaneous transphyseal screw placement across the medial aspect of the proximal femoral physis and analyzed using three-dimensional (3D) techniques. Three primary outcome measures were considered—physis angle, version, and femoral length. Compared to paired controls, all treated femurs displayed varus correction and shortening after an average treatment period of 10 weeks. The amount of varus change was 11.6 ± 2.8° (mean ± SD) (p = 0.0002, 95% confidence interval [CI] [8.659, 14.589]) and shortening was 4.3 ± 1.6 mm (p = 0.0011, 95% CI [2.672, 5.942]). Four animals demonstrated retroversion and two demonstrated anteversion compared to controls (4.1 ± 5.4° retroversion, p = 0.1169, 95% CI [−1.483, 9.765]). The amount of varus correction was strongly correlated with the orientation of the screw relative to the medial/lateral axis of the physis (r = −0.887, p = 0.0183, 95% CI [−0.988, −0.271]). The amount and direction of version was strongly correlated with how eccentrically anterior or posterior the screw was placed relative to the center of the physis (r = −0.850, p = 0.0322, 95% CI [−0.983, −0.123]) as well as the angle of the screw relative to the posterior condylar axis of the femur (r = −0.980, p = 0.0006, 95% CI [−0.998, −0.822]). This study is the first to use 3D analysis to quantify proximal femur growth modulation and identify associations between the growth modulation outcomes and screw placement parameters.