Classification of slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Traditionally slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) has been classified according to the duration of symptoms into acute, chronic and acute-on-chronic (1).
But more recently SCFE has been classified according to the ability to weight bear on the affected leg: (2)
- stable -
- patient is able to ambulate with or without the help of crutches
- responsible for about 90 % of all slips
- has a better prognosis when compared to unstable SCFE
- unstable -
- patient is unable to ambulate even with crutches
- complications rate is higher than in stable SCFE (2)
This classification is the most widely accepted (3)
Reference:
- Loder RT. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Am Fam Physician. 1998;57(9):2135-42, 2148-50.
- Peck DM, Voss LM, Voss TT; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Jun 15;95(12):779-784.
- Loder RT, Aronsson DD, Dobbs MB, et al. Instructional course lecture: slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2000 Aug;82-A(8):1170-88.
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