Endocrine disorders and orthopedic problems in children.

Endocrine excesses or deficiencies frequently result in alterations of height as compared with age-matched children. Less clinically obvious are significant alterations in bone metabolism leading to osteoporosis, which can affect the child and may affect the patient as an adult. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis appears to be associated with a variety of endocrine disorders, particularly hypothyroidism. The hormonal treatment of various endocrine and nonendocrine disorders has been associated with alterations of bone metabolism, or of bone maturation, as well as with producing or aggravating orthopedic disorders.