Hunka classification of pediatric septic arthritis of the hip

Last revised by Joshua Yap on 24 Feb 2023

The Hunka classification is used to grade the residual anatomical deformity of the proximal femur following a septic hip in the pediatric population based on changes to the femoral head and stability of the hip.

Classification

  • type I: absent or minimal femoral head changes

  • type II:

    • IIa: deformity of the femoral head with an intact physis

    • IIb: deformity of the femoral head with premature physeal closure

  • type III: pseudoarthrosis of the femoral neck

  • type IV:

    • IVa: complete destruction of the capital femoral epiphysis with a stable neck fragment

    • IVb: complete destruction of the capital femoral epiphysis with a small unstable neck fragment

  • type V: complete destruction of both the femoral head and the femoral neck to the intertrochanteric line with hip dislocation

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