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Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis, Sports Medicine

Vicki R. Nelson, MD, PhD and W. Franklin Sease, Jr., MD, FAAFP, FACSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • A disorder of unknown cause in which the proximal femoral epiphysis (head of the femur) begins to “fall off or slip off” the femoral neck

  • The slippage occurs at the epiphyseal plate, ...

DIAGNOSIS

  • Determined by history, physical examination, and pelvis anteroposterior (AP) and frog-leg lateral view radiographs.

  • It is important to always examine both sides owing to possibility of bilate...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Orthopedic referral should be made immediately upon diagnosis 3.

  • Patients should be made non–weight-bearing.

SURGERY/OTHER PROCEDURES

  • Surgical stabilization is the mainstay of t...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Orthopedic referral should be made immediately on diagnosis.

  • Patients should be made non–weight-bearing if the diagnosis is suspected.

PROGNOSIS

  • Prognosis is usually...

REFERENCES

1
Peck DM, Voss LM, Voss TT. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician.  2017;95(12):779–784.
2
Frank JS, Gambacorta PL, Eisner EA. Hip pathology in th...

ADDITIONAL READING

Armstrong AD, Hubbard MC. Essentials of Musculoskeletal Care. 5th ed. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons; 2016. 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • SCFE can present unilaterally or bilaterally with only knee or thigh pain; not all cases have hip pain.

  • All adolescent patients with thigh or hip pain should get x-rays. The recommended...

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