Lateral growth disturbance of the proximal femur in premature infants who had neonatal sepsis

This is a retrospective review of four patients in whom a pattern of growth disturbance of the proximal femur with the bony bridge developed. They were born prematurely with low birth weight at birth and they had a suspicious sepsis, but they did not have any signs of localized infection. All presented with a progressive gait disturbance and a leg-length discrepancy. Radiographs showed an anterior tilting of the capital femoral epiphysis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed partial physeal closure with bony bridges. This case series suggests an association between neonatal sepsis of prematurity and growth disturbance of the proximal femur.