Complications
The complications of slipped femoral epiphysis are: (1,2)
- avascular necrosis -
- the most serious complication, occurring secondary to severe displacement and fixation with more than one screw
- seen in up to 60 % of patients with unstable SCFE
- often results in advanced and early degenerative osteoarthritis
- coxa vara, due to fusion of the epiphysis in the slipped position, usually resulting in a painless deformity
- contralateral slipped femoral epiphysis:
- occurs in at least 33% of cases
- sometimes the opposite femoral epiphysis is pinned at the time of treatment of the slipped one
- secondary osteoarthritis occurs if there has been avascular necrosis and may result if the condition has not been reduced
- chondrolysis -
- there may be loss of articular cartilage
- results in joint stiffness and pain
- the rate has decreased (from 5 - 7 % to 1 - 2%) with improved surgical techniques.
Reference:
- Peck DM, Voss LM, Voss TT; Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: Diagnosis and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Jun 15;95(12):779-784.
- Samelis PV, Papagrigorakis E, Konstantinou AL, et al; Factors Affecting Outcomes of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis. Cureus. 2020 Feb 5;12(2)
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