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Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis and Its Variants

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The Young Adult Hip in Sport

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Abstract

Although SCFE has been recognized and treated by orthopaedists for over a century, significant advances in the understanding and management have occurred in the past decade. Classically, the goals of treatment have been to stabilize the physis and prevent the iatrogenic complications of osteonecrosis and chondrolysis. This schema is currently undergoing re-evaluation due to the recognition that even mild stable SCFE can cause femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Although the potential for impingement in SCFE has been recognized for some time, preventing impingement and the resultant damage to the cartilage and labrum is becoming a more important principle of SCFE treatment. Improved knowledge of the vascular anatomy responsible for femoral head perfusion allowed the development of a safe technique for open reduction and internal fixation of the displaced epiphysis. Although the surgical dislocation and open reduction are technically demanding, safe correction of the physis is now possible and the short to mid-term results are good. Long-term results should be similar, but may be influenced by the amount of cartilage and labral damage at the time of surgery.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Schulthess Clinic, Lengghalde 2, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland

    Michael Leunig MD

  2. University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland

    Michael Leunig MD & Reinhold Ganz MD

  3. William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA

    Ira Zaltz MD

  4. Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, South San Francisco, CA, USA

    Lisa M. Tibor MD

Authors
  1. Michael Leunig MD
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  2. Reinhold Ganz MD
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  3. Ira Zaltz MD
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  4. Lisa M. Tibor MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Leunig MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedics, Princess Grace Hospital, London, United Kingdom

    Fares S. Haddad

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Leunig, M., Ganz, R., Zaltz, I., Tibor, L.M. (2014). Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis and Its Variants. In: Haddad, F. (eds) The Young Adult Hip in Sport. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5412-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5412-9_5

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