Abstract
Aims: In order to assess the potential pathologic inßuence of any Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) disturbances on the development of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE) during adolescence, we conducted a prospective clinical study. Methods: Nineteen patients in total were included in the study. Fourteen patients, 7 boys and 7 girls (16 hips), suffering from SCFE during the proceedings of this study, formed group ÔAñ. Another 5 patients that had been treated for SCFE a few years before the study, were used as a control group (group ÔBñ). We measured the level of I-PTH, along with serum Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) levels. Furthermore we checked all the necessary anthropometrical characteristics of the patients (age, height, weight and sexual maturation). Each patient of group ÔAñ was categorized from grade I to grade V according to the progress of the slipping. Results: An increased incidence (9 out of 14 patients), of serum PTH level abnormalities (both decrease and increase) in group ÔAñ was detected. Group ÔBñ patients had normal results. It is interesting that the detected I-PTH serum level abnormalities were not in any pattern related to the Ca and P serum levels. Conclusions: We believe that a temporary Parathyroid Hormone disorder or imbalance (along with others etiologic factors) during the early years of adolescence, may play a potentially signiþcant role in the development of SCFE.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
