What is Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis (SUFE)?
Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis or slipped capital femoral epiphysis is the commonest hip disorder in adolescence. It is 3 times as common in boys. Risk factors include adolescents who are either obese or tall and thin following a growth spurt. Slipped upper femoral epiphysis is a common cause of limping and leg pain in adolescents, and the symptoms should be taken seriously. Prior to the slip the patient will often have slight discomfort. The acute onset of SUFE presents with severe pain, to the extent that the child is unable to walk or stand. In an acute or chronic presentation the child can be in pain with limp and altered gait, which can occur for several months suddenly becoming more painful. With chronic presentation the child has mild symptoms, is still able to walk with an altered gait. A significant number of cases report knee pain as the only symptom. If the condition is treated early, while the patient is still able to weight bear, there is a 96% chance of a good prognosis,
