Update On Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)

Epidemiology is the study of factors that describe any health event. In this study researchers update the epidemiology of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE).
SCFE is the most common problem affecting the hips of adolescents. In this condition, the growth center of the hip (the capital femoral epiphysis) actually slips backwards on the top of the femur (the thighbone).

Using information from the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), demographics on how often SCFE occurs is reported. KID has the inpatient records of all children discharged or released from a hospital in the United States for the years 1997 and 2000. Who is affected is reported. Based on these results, the authors offer some thoughts on the 'whys' behind how and when SCFE occurs.

They found that the overall incidence (how often SCFE occurs) is 10.8 cases per every 100,000 children. Boys are affected more often than girls. Blacks and Hispanics have the highest rates of all the races reported.

Other epidemiologic findings from this study included:

  • Average age of first symptom was about 12 years
  • Blacks were four times more likely to have SCFE compared to whites
  • Hispanics were two and a half times more likely to have SCFE compared to whites
  • There were seasonal and geographical differences in when and where SCFE occurred

    Higher rates of SCFE were found in the Northeast and West United States. In the north (above 40 degrees latitude), SCFE occurs more often in the summer. In the south (below 40 degrees latitude) SCFE occurs more often in the winter.

    Scientists aren't sure why the seasonal differences occur. They think the racial differences may be genetic or could be caused by obesity. Understanding genetic and environmental factors that trigger SCFE can help doctors learn how to prevent and/or treat this problem.



    References: Charles L. Lehmann, BS, et al. The Epidemiology of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: An Update. In Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics. May/June 2006. Vol. 26. No. 3. Pp. 286-290.

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