Slipped upper femoral epiphysis

Case contributed by Townsville radiology training
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Overweight girl presented in casualty following school sports event with pain in the left hip and a limp

Patient Data

Age: 11 years
Gender: Female
x-ray

Difficult to interpret given the rotation of the hips. Need frogleg view.

"Frog-leg" lateral of hips

x-ray

Slipped upper femoral epiphysis

Case Discussion

Slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE; also known as slipped capital femoral epiphysis) is a common cause of pain in the hip in adolescents. The presentation can be subtle and the radiologist needs to bear the diagnosis in mind constantly when viewing hips. Undetected and untreated SUFE can lead to deformity and long term problems progressing to osteoarthritis.

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