A comparison of varus and valgus slipped capital femoral epiphysis: A case series

Introduction: slipped capital femoral epiphysis is an emergent pediatric hip disorder. It typically presents as varus slip, a posterior and inferior displacement of the proximal femoral epiphysis on the femoral metaphysis. Very rarely, it is valgus slip, a posterior and lateral displacement. this case series describes three patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis and compares the differentiating factors observed in varus and valgus slips. case series: case 1 is an 11-yearold obese boy with pain for several months due to left unilateral varus slipped capital femoral epiphysis, who received ipsilateral in situ pinning and prophylactic pinning in the contralateral hip. case 2 is a 12-year-old obese boy with acute pain who had right unilateral varus slipped capital femoral epiphysis, received in situ pinning, and has suspected left hip pre-slippage. case 3 is an 11-year-old non-obese girl with acute pain James B. Meiling1, W. Paul Bowman2,3, Matthew E. Mayfield4 Affiliations: 13rd year medical student, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA; 2Chairman and Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA; 3Senior Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA; 4Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Cook Children’s Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA. Corresponding Author: James Bryan Meiling, 3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas, United States of America, 76107; Email: James.Meiling@my.unthsc.edu Received: 27 February 2018 Accepted: 16 March 2018 Published: 05 April 2018 revealing simultaneous bilateral valgus slipped capital femoral epiphysis, who underwent in situ pinning twice because of hardware complications. conclusion: the cases and current literature show that varus slips occur more often in males, while valgus slips occur more in females. body mass index seems to show little indication in predicting the type of slip. typically, varus slips present unilaterally and can become sequential bilateral slips, whereas valgus slips are more likely to present as simultaneous bilateral slips. recognizing the different clinical types of slips is important because swift treatment of this emergent hip disorder depends on the immediate recognition and quick actions of orthopedic surgeons.