Morscher Osteotomy

Proximal femoral growth disturbances clinically present with patient expressing difficulties in completing basic activities in their daily living. The physical exam will demonstrate findings including abductor muscle weakness with limping, loss of abduction amplitude, and a shorter affected leg, while radiographs will show a diminished lateral femoral offset, shorter femoral neck length, and decreased overall limb length. When the treatment goals for a surgical intervention include femoral neck and leg lengthening, the Morscher osteotomy can be considered. Using the surgical hip dislocation (SHD) technique, one can address the extent of proximal femoral growth anomalies by lengthening the femoral neck, distally repositioning the greater trochanter while using a lateral and distal translation of the distal femur to increase lateral offset and overall femoral length. The Morscher osteotomy requires the same meticulous retinacular flap dissection and surgical planning as other previously described osteotomies around the hip.