ENDOCRINE DYSFUNCTION AND SLIPPED CAPITAL FEMORAL EPIPHYSIS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • review article
    • Vol. 50  (1) , 1-16
Abstract
Five patients with concomitant endocrinopathy and slipped capital femoral epiphysis were studied. One had diabetes and hypothyroidism, 1 had hypothyroidism, 1 had hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and 2 had a craniopharyngioma (1 of whom had severe panhypopituitarism post-operatively). An additional 7 patients with cranio-pharyngioma revealed marked delay in closure of epiphyses and an additional undiagnosed case of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. Of the 6 patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis, 3 had bilateral and 3 unilateral involvement. Of the 5 patients undergoing surgical stabilization, there was significant delay of epiphyseodesis, prompting recommendation of concomitant bone grafting. Histological examination of the femoral head from a 3 yr old child with panhypopituitarism showed marked irregularity of the growth plate and loss of columnar integrity, which may be a predisposing factor to slipping in older children with endocrinopathies. The effects of various hormones on the physis are specifically discussed, especially as they relate to the possible etiology of slipped capital femoral epiphysis.