Orthopedics Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Injuries Forum - [reoccuring?] Slipped Capital Femural Epiphysis (scfe)

chelsea231 wrote:

i have slipped capital femoral epiphysis, a moderate slip, I am 15 and my left hip slipped when I was 13. I have 1 single screw in it and unfotunatly my pain is coming back again. I am very active in sports, not overweight, white, and live in the south (most people with scfe are obese, male, african american, and live in the northeast). The growth plate in my right hip has closed, but my left hip has made no progress since the previous year. The doctor told me he would take out the screw, and I would get an mri to see what's wrong. He also wants to "shave down the bone" or something because of the a "deformity" [?]. I was also told to stay off my legs for awhile, meaning no sports.I was told its probable that I will never play competitive sports again, but that I can swim and bike. I was devasted by this. However, I am puzzled to why this happened, and I would like to know if anybody knows what could of happened and what my future is, and if I should get a second opinion. I desperatly needdd helpp!

Any help would be greatly appreciated

hello,

sorry to hear about your hip problems. I know it is no fun at all to have these problems. I was 13 when I had both of my hips pinned because of scfe. I am now 32 years old and have never had anything done to my hips since I had them pinned. However, I have alot of trouble and pain in my right leg(right hip). The problems that a person can have because of this condition will vary greatly from person to person. Many people have their hips pinned and they go through their whole life without many problems at all; others will need further surgeries and/or hip replacements because of it. For me personally, my left hip was not a very bad slip, so it healed pretty well and my left leg/hip feels fine. My right hip was a different story. The right hip slipped a great deal, and as a result, my right hip is quite deformed. The cartilage is still good and the joint space is still good, but the deformity itself causes alot of problems with pain and with lack of mobility and movement. It sucks big time! However, I am still very active and I workout at the gym almost every day and I even sometimes run a mile or two every now and then. But I will need either a hip replacement or a reconstructive hip surgery sometime in the futuere....Because I can't go on the rest of my life - or even for the rest of my youth - putting up with the limitations brought on by this problem.....

You may do fine....You are still young - only 15 - and your hips will probably improve for a while yet....At your age, after you have the pins taken out, the hip will "remodel" inside the socket somewhat; this should make your hips feel and function better. Only time will tell how your hips will turn out...If you get to be 18,19,20 and are happy with the function and the feel of your hips, then you leave them alone..If you find yourself being bothered by your hips a great deal or you are in alot of pain, then it would be time to do something else......I don't know if your doctor mentioned to you or not about a reconstructive hip surgery called an osteotomy......That is a surgery in which the doctor cuts the upper end of the femur and rotates the head to fit and move better within the socket. It moves the more diseased, damaged bone out of the socket, and it moves the more-normal bone into the socket.....That is an option for me as well.......Hope this helps....Get back to me with any questions.....It's my pleasure to answer any questions you might have....I know what a bummer it is to have this problem....You are not alone!!!!