SLIPPED CAPITAL FEMORAL EPIPHYSIS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH WEIGHT-TO-AGE PERCENTILES IN IRISH CHILDREN

Abstract

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is the most common hip disorder in adolescents and its incidence is on the increase. Obesity is purported to be a significant risk factor in the pathogenesis of this condition. Measurements for weight and BMI’s are good techniques in identifying children at risk and those who are obese. In this retrospective review, we provide clear evidence of a relationship between SCFE and obesity based on weight-to-age percentiles. 64 patients with radiologically diagnosed SCFE were compared with 88 controls without histories of hip pathology. In the SCFE group, 45.3% were above the 95th percentile as opposed to 12.1% in the control group (P=< 0.0001). In addition, the obesity risk group (85–95th percentile) numbers were much higher in the SCFE group (15.6%) compared to controls (7.7%) (P=< 0.0001). Obesity is a modifiable risk factor in most cases and thus, identifying children at risk using weight-to-age percentile charts correcting for gender is potentially beneficial in reducing the incidence of SCFE.