Management of Coxa Vara Septica and Pseudoarthrosis of the Femoral Neck: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Coxa vara and pseudoarthrosis of the femoral neck after septic hip arthritis is a very rare disease. The aim of this study was to present a case with pseudoarthrosis of the femoral neck, with coxa vara after neonatal septic arthritis of the right hip, and treatment of the pseudarthrosis with proximal femoral valgus osteotomy. CASE REPORT A 12-month-old female, who had suffered neonatal septic arthritis with a five-day history of fever and painful right hip now demonstrated painless limping to the right hip, pelvic obliquity, Trendelenburg-Duchenne gait, limitation of hip abduction, lower-extremity length discrepancy with 3.0 cm of shortening of right femur, and walking on her tiptoes. In addition, a viable femoral head, coxa vara, and pseudoarthrosis of the femoral neck were observed. At the age of 26-months, the patient had a realignment valgus osteotomy of the proximal femur and adductor tenotomy was performed. At the last follow-up postoperative evaluation, at the age of four and a half years, the patient showed successful consolidation of pseudoarthrosis, correction of Trendelenburg gait, restored right lower extremity alignment, and corrected lower-extremity length discrepancy. CONCLUSIONS In the case of coxa vara and pseudoarthrosis of the femoral neck, realignment of the proximal femoral valgus osteotomy and bone grafting of the pseudoarthrosis resulted in ossification of the femoral neck as the epiphyseal plate was placed at right angle to the compressive forces.