[Epiphyseolysis of the femoral head: new aspects of diagnostics and therapy].

BACKGROUND

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is the most common hip disease in adolescents and is always surgically treated with the aim to avoid further slippage and to reduce the risk of degenerative arthritis at young age.

OBJECTIVES

A summary of the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, radiographic imaging and current therapy concepts is given.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A selective review of the literature was performed.

RESULTS

With an increasing body mass index in adolescents the incidence of SCFE also increases. The diagnostic routine is comprised of a clinical examination with the evaluation of Drehmann's sign and a radiographic evaluation including anterior-posterior aspect and frog's legs view. In situ stabilization with a single screw is the standard treatment for the most prevalent mild or moderate stable slippages. In cases of acute slippage a gentle reduction maneuver may be attempted. Hardware removal must not be performed before epiphyseal closure. Common bilateral but not simultaneous occurrence of the disease requires prophylactic pinning of the unaffected side by default, at least in central Europe. Various surgical treatment options exist to reduce the femoroacetabular impingement caused by the slippage.

CONCLUSIONS

Current treatment algorithms result in satisfactory long-term outcomes. If the risk of developing degenerative arthritis after SCFE may be reduced even more with modern arthroscopic or open surgical procedures to restore the anatomic pre-slip conditions has to be confirmed through further long-term studies. The implementation of programs to prevent obesity in adolescents may also reduce the incidence of SCFE.