To describe the relationship between BMI (body mass index: weight in kilograms/height in meter(2)) and final Stulberg outcome in LCP disease.

The data of a total of 255 unilaterally involved patients (bone age> or =6 years, average age at induction: 7.8 years) were studied. The non-surgical treatment group involved; a) no treatment (20), b) brace (83), c) range of motion (ROM) exercise (62), while surgical treatment included either a) femoral osteotomy (38), or b) Salter innominate osteotomy (52). Treatment result was as follows: Stulberg I (20), II (88), III (96), IV (49), V (2).

1) A weak correlation was founded between BMI and Stulberg outcomes in the whole study group (Spearman correlation 0.11; p=0.078). The mean BMI of the Stulberg IV&V (poor) groups was significantly greater than that of those in the Stulberg I&II (good) and III (fair) group (p=0.011). 2) BMI was related to Stulberg outcome in the brace and range of motion groups (Spearman correlation 0.17; p=0.045). The mean BMI of the Stulberg IV&V group was significantly greater than that of Stulberg I&II group in the brace & ROM groups (p=0.017). However, these statistical significances were not found in the surgery and no-treatment groups.

BMI may play a role in the Stulberg outcome. A higher BMI is associated with a poorer outcome, especially in patients treated by brace or ROM.