This disorder may be caused by a weakened growing hip joint.
Typical symptoms include stiffness or mild pain in the hip.
The diagnosis is based on x-rays and sometimes other imaging tests.
Surgery is usually needed to correct the disorder.
(See also Overview of Bone Disorders in Children Overview of Bone Disorders in Children Bone disorders can be caused by injury, infection, or cancer, be inherited, occur as part of a child’s growth, or occur for no known reason. Some bone disorders can cause pain and difficulty... read more .)
The femur is the thighbone. The capital femoral epiphysis is the head of the femur (the ball in the ball-and-socket of the hip joint). The epiphysis can slip off the end of the femur. The slipping occurs at the growth plate Overview of Bone Disorders in Children Bone disorders can be caused by injury, infection, or cancer, be inherited, occur as part of a child’s growth, or occur for no known reason. Some bone disorders can cause pain and difficulty... read more . Growth plates are soft areas of cartilage near the ends of bones from which children's bones grow.
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis usually develops in early adolescence and most commonly affects boys. Obesity Obesity in Adolescents Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) equal to or greater than the 95th percentile for age and gender. Although genetics and some disorders cause obesity, most adolescent obesity results... read more is a major risk factor. Many children who develop this disorder in one hip eventually develop it in both hips.
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
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Causes of SCFE
The cause of slipped capital femoral epiphysis is not known. However, the disorder most likely results from a weakening in the growth plate. A weakening in the growth plate can result from injury, hip deformities, complications due to obesity, inflammation, or changes in levels of hormones in the blood (such as a low thyroid hormone level), which normally occur around puberty (see Puberty in Girls Puberty in Girls Puberty is a sequence of events in which physical changes occur, resulting in adult physical characteristics and capacity to reproduce. These physical changes are regulated by changes in the... read more and see Puberty in Boys Puberty in Boys Puberty is the stage during which people reach full reproductive ability and develop the adult features of their sex. In boys, puberty usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 14 years. However... read more ). The separation causes the top part of the thighbone to eventually lose its blood supply, decay, and collapse.
Symptoms of SCFE
The first symptom of slipped capital femoral epiphysis may be stiffness or mild pain in the hip. However, the pain may seem to come from the knee or thigh. The pain lessens with rest and worsens with walking or moving the hip. Later, a limp develops, followed by hip pain that extends down the inner thigh to the knee. The affected leg is usually twisted outward.
Diagnosis of SCFE
X-rays
Sometimes magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasonography
X-rays Plain X-Rays X-rays are high-energy radiation waves that can penetrate most substances (to varying degrees). In very low doses, x-rays are used to produce images that help doctors diagnose disease. In high... read more are taken of both hips. X-rays of the affected hip show slippage or separation of the head of the thighbone from the rest of the bone.
Ultrasonography Ultrasonography Ultrasonography uses high-frequency sound (ultrasound) waves to produce images of internal organs and other tissues. A device called a transducer converts electrical current into sound waves... read more 
and MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a strong magnetic field and very high frequency radio waves are used to produce highly detailed images. MRI does not use x-rays and is usually very safe... read more 
are also useful, especially if x-rays are normal. Early diagnosis of slipped capital femoral epiphysis is important because treatment becomes more difficult and gives less satisfactory results later.
Treatment of SCFE
Surgery
Surgery is usually needed to align the separated ends of the thighbone and to fasten them together with metal screws.
