A bowing wall needs star bolts when three conditions are met: the movement is caused by lateral outward displacement of the masonry (not foundation settlement or soil pressure), the wall structure itself is still substantially intact and can be tied back safely, and there is stable interior framing, floor joists, or an opposing wall to anchor the rod system into.
In Philadelphia rowhomes, the most common scenario is a front or rear brick facade pulling away from the floor framing due to loss of mortar bond, deteriorated brick ties, or thermal movement over decades. If the wall has bowed between 1/2 inch and 2 inches and the masonry is not actively crumbling or spalling, star bolts are usually the right solution.
Star bolts are not appropriate when the wall has bowed more than 2-3 inches (partial or full rebuild may be safer), the masonry is too deteriorated to hold the plate load, or the cause is active hydrostatic pressure from soil.
The only way to know for certain is a physical inspection. NK Construction provides free structural evaluations for Philadelphia homeowners.