THE BELFAST TECHNIQUE FOR DEFORMITY CORRECTION OF FEMORAL COXA VARA IN OSTEOGENESIS IMPERFECTA: A NOVEL PLANNING AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE
Authors: Robinson Mark , Mackey Rebecca , Duffy Catherine , Ballard Jim 
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Osteogenesis imperfect (OI) is a geno- and phenotypically heterogeneous group of congenital collagen disorders characterized by fragility and microfractures resulting in long bone deformities. OI can lead to progressive femoral coxa vara from bone and muscular imbalance and continuous microfracture about the proximal femur. If left untreated, patients develop Trendelenburg gait, leg length discrepancy, further stress fracture and acute fracture at the apex of the deformity, impingement and hip joint degeneration. In the OI patient, femoral coxa vara cannot be treated in isolation and consideration must be given to protecting the whole bone with the primary goal of verticalization and improved biomechanical stability to allow early loading, safe standing, re-orientation of the physis and avoidance of untreated sequelae. Implant constructs should therefore be designed to accommodate and protect the whole bone. The normal paediatric femoral neck shaft angle (FNSA) ranges from 135 to 145 degrees. In OI the progressive pathomechanical changes result in FNSA of significantly less than 120 degrees and decreased Hilgenreiner epiphyseal angles (HEA). Proximal femoral valgus osteotomy is considered the standard surgical treatment for coxa vara and multiple surgical techniques have been described, each with their associated complications. In this paper we present the novel technique of controlling femoral version and coronal alignment using a tubular plate and long bone protection with the use of teleoscoping rods.

Methodology

After the decision to operate had been made, a CT scan of the femur was performed. A 1:1 scale 3D printed model (AXIAL3D, Belfast, UK) was made from the CT scan to allow for accurate implant templating and osteotomy planning. In all cases a subtrochanteric osteotomy was performed and fixed using a pre-bent 3.5 mm 1/3 tubular plate. The plate was bent to allow one end to be inserted into the proximal femur to act as a blade. A channel into the femoral neck was opened using a flat osteotome. The plate was then tapped into the femoral neck to the predetermined position. The final position needed to allow one of the plate holes to accommodate the growing rod. This had to be determined pre operatively using the 3D printed model and the implants. The femoral canal was reamed, and the growing rod was placed in the femur, passing through the hole in the plate to create a construct that could effectively protect both the femoral neck and the full length of the shaft. The distal part of the plate was then fixed to the shaft using eccentric screws around the nail to complete the construct.

Results

Three children ages 5,8 and 13 underwent the procedure. Five coxa vara femurs have undergone this technique with follow-up out to 62 months (41–85 months) from surgery. Improvements in the femoral neck shaft angle (FNSA) were av. 18o (10–38o) with pre-op coxa vara FNSA av. 99o(range 87–114o) and final FNSA 117o (105–125o). Hilgenreiner's epiphyseal angle was improved by av. 29o (2–58o). However only one hip was restored to <25o. In the initial technique employed for 3 hips, the plates were left short in the neck to avoid damaging the physis. This resulted in 2 of 3 hips fracturing through the femoral neck above the plate at approximately 1 year. There were revisions of the 3 hips to longer plates to prevent intra-capsular stress riser. All osteotomies united and both intracapsular fractures healed. No further fractures have occurred within the protected femurs and no other repeat operations have been required.

Conclusions

Surgical correction of the OI coxa vara hip is complex. Bone mineral density, multiplanar deformity, a desire to maintain physeal growth and protection of the whole bone all play a role in the surgeon's decision making process. Following modifications, this technique demonstrates a novel method in planning and control of multiplanar proximal femoral deformity, resulting in restoration of the FNSA to a more appropriate anatomical alignment, preventing long bone fracture and improved femoral verticalization in the medium term follow-up.