Epidemiology

It is a rare condition and is one of the most commonly missed diagnoses in children (1).

In the UK, an overall SCFE incidence of 4.8 per 100,000 children (0-16 years) was reported through 1990 to 2013, with a peak age of diagnosis between 11 to 12 years for girls, and 12 to 13 years for boys. (2)

General practitioners can expect to see around 1-2 slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) patients in their professional lifetime (3). It is more common in:

• obese children (2)
• boys than in girls (2)
• blacks and Pacific Islanders (may be due to increased body weight in these populations) (1)

• bilateral in 18 - 50% (1)

A seasonal variation is seen in the northern United States, with increased rates in late summer and fall in patients who reside north of 40 degrees latitude. Increased physical activity in the summer or impaired vitamin D synthesis is suspected to be the cause for this (1)

References:

1. Peck DM, Voss LM, Voss TT; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Jun 15;95(12):779-784.
2. Perry DC, Metcalfe D, Costa ML, et al. A nationwide cohort study of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Arch Dis Child. 2017 Dec;102(12):1132-1136.
3. Uglow MG, Clarke NM. The management of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2004 Jul;86(5):631-5.