What is the best treatment for slipped capital femoral epiphysis?

SCFE is always treated with surgery to stabilize the growth plate that slipped. But even before the surgery, the doctor will try to prevent any further slipping by encouraging rest and the use of crutches to avoid putting weight on the affected leg.

What happens if you don’t treat slipped capital femoral epiphysis?

Major complications are avascular necrosis and chondrolysis. Avascular necrosis is a serious complication that happens if your teen’s femoral head has severely slipped. When this happens, the blood supply to the head of the femur is cut off and the hip begins to collapse.

Is slipped capital femoral epiphysis an emergency?

SCFE is usually an emergency and must be diagnosed and treated early. In 20 to 40 percent of affected children, SCFE will be present in both hips at the time the child is diagnosed. If only one hip is affected, the other hip will eventually slip 30 to 60 percent of the time. Treatment is surgical.

Is slipped capital femoral epiphysis painful?

Symptoms of SCFE typically include complaints of pain in the groin or hip that is aggravated by activity. Sometimes the child will also experience pain in the thigh or knee area. In acute or unstable slips, the child will complain of immediate pain, limp, or feel like the leg is “giving way.”

Can you walk after SCFE surgery?

After surgery to fix a SCFE, the child will need to walk with crutches for 6 to 8 weeks. The child may be referred to a physical therapist for treatment during recovery. Follow-up is vital every 3 to 4 months for the next several years to recheck the treated hip.

Can slipped capital femoral epiphysis be seen on xray?

Standard radiography is the first-choice imaging modality in patients with suspected SCFE. Usually, anteroposterior (AP) pelvis and frog-lateral views of both hips are obtained (Fig. 1). Radiographs of the contralateral side should always be included to rule out the bilateral involvement of SCFE.

What does SCFE pain feel like?

With a stable SCFE, a person feels stiffness or pain in the knee or groin area. A stable SCFE usually causes the person to limp and walk with the foot turned outward. The pain and the limp typically tend to come and go, worsening with activity and getting better with rest.

What is the most common age range for slipped capital femoral epiphysis?

SCFE usually occurs in those eight to 15 years of age and is one of the most commonly missed diagnoses in children. SCFE is classified as stable or unstable based on the stability of the physis.

How long is the recovery for slipped capital femoral epiphysis?

The majority of patients with a slipped capital femoral epiphysis will be able to return to most sports and activities at approximately 3-6 months post-operatively. Removing the hardware is not necessary unless the patient develops pain or there is a problem with the screw itself.

What is a possible complication of capital femoral epiphysis?

Two most severe complications of slipped capital femoral epiphysis are avascular necrosis and chondrolysis. Avascular necrosis is more commonly associated with the acute slips when the lateral epiphyseal vessels are disrupted. In chronic slips, avascular necrosis can occur as a result of treatment.

What is the best view to diagnose SCFE?

Which of the following is the most typical presenting symptom of slipped capital femoral epiphysis?

The most common symptoms of SCFE are limping and pain that is poorly localized to the hip, groin, thigh, or knee. Knee or distal thigh pain is the presenting symptom in 15% of patients with this condition.