Complications Related to the Treatment of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

Abstract

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a condition of the immature hip in which mechanical overload of the proximal femoral physis results in anterior and superior displacement of the femoral metaphysis relative to the epiphysis. The treatment of SCFE is surgical, as the natural history of nonsurgical treatment is slip progression and early arthritis. Despite advances in treatment, much controversy exists regarding the best treatment, and complication rates remain high. Complications include osteonecrosis, chondrolysis, SCFE-induced impingement, and related articular degeneration, fixation failure and deformity progression, growth disturbance of the proximal femur, and development of bilateral disease.

Keywords: Chondrolysis; Complications; Impingement; Osteoarthritis; Osteonecrosis; Slipped capital femoral epiphysis.