Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is the most common condition affecting the adolescent hip. SCFE is most often seen in children from 11 to 14 years old. The hip is a ball and socket joint. In the growing child, the ball portion is called the epiphysis, which rests on a layer of cartilage called a growth plate, at the upper end of the femur (thigh bone). SCFE occurs when the growth plate at the upper end of the femur loosens, causing the femur to rotate and the epiphysis to “slip,” similar to the way ice cream might slide off a cone. Typically, the condition develops over weeks or months and causes increasing limping and pain with activity. Overweight or obesity is commonly associated with the condition, although it can also occur in normal weight children. Left alone, the condition may steadily worsen as the bone deformity increases.
Symptoms, Diagnosis and Outlook
The symptoms of SCFE include:
Limping or a lurching gait
Pain in the hip, groin or knee
Affected leg turning outward when walking
There are two main types of SCFE:
Stable SCFE - child can still walk on the affected leg.
Unstable SCFE - child cannot walk. This is an emergency, so the child needs to go to the hospital Emergency Department right away.
To diagnose SCFE, the doctor will ask about the child's medical history, perform a physical exam and check the hip area for pain and mobility. The doctor may also order X-rays.
Surgery is required to treat SCFE. A screw is inserted into the bone in order to hold the epiphysis in place and prevent worsening of the deformity. Once healed, children with a stable SCFE can usually expect to return to their normal activities and sports. Those with unstable SCFE are more likely to experience difficulties, and the outcomes are less predictable.
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Why Choose Penn State Health for Care
Top-Ranked by U.S. News & World Report
Penn State Health includes the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, ranked as one of the best orthopedic providers in the country by U.S. News & World Report. This honor was earned because our doctors consistently deliver exceptional patient care and outcomes through their commitment to advanced treatments, translational research and provider training.
Coordinated, Specialized Care Through a Dedicated Institute
Our orthopaedic specialists work together through our dedicated Penn State Bone and Joint Institute. There, they focus on providing you with multidisciplinary, tailored care and state-of-the-art treatments and technologies. This produces the highest-quality patient outcomes. All physicians at the institute are fellowship-trained and subspecialize in additional niche areas of orthopaedics, including arthritis care and joint arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery).
Designated as a Blue Distinction® Center
Penn State Bone and Joint Institute is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. This superior designation from BlueCross BlueShield is only given to health care facilities and providers that stand out for their expertise in delivering specialty knee and hip replacement care. Our surgeons specialize in a range of pain-relieving procedures, including partial knee replacement, total joint arthroplasty, joint preservation surgery and complex revision surgery. They perform more than 1,000 joint replacement procedures every year.
Confidence in Treatment Through Education
We developed a special joint replacement education website just for patients undergoing joint arthroplasty. The website takes you step by step through the joint replacement process. From things to consider before choosing surgery to recovery after surgery, you’ll find the information you need to help you feel confident in your decision to undergo joint replacement.
Advancing Orthopaedic Medicine Through Research
The doctors and researchers in our Center for Orthopaedic Research and Translational Science at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center are committed to advancing our field through scientific discovery and education. As the only academic medical center in central Pennsylvania, Hershey Medical Center is a national leader in research, in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine, and on the leading edge of new treatment options, including clinical trials.
