Slipped capital femoral epiphysis coexistant with Perthes Disease - A case report

Clinical Cases 02.03.2007
Scan Image
Section: Musculoskeletal system
Case Type: Clinical Cases
Patient: 12 years, female
Authors: Dr. R Kirubanandan, Y Chee
icon
Details
icon
AI Report

Clinical History

A child with Perthes disease in one hip may develop a slipped capital femoral epiphysis in the contralateral hip. We present out management of such a rare case with radiological evidence.

Imaging Findings

A four year old girl presented with Perthes disease of her right hip and was treated with broomstick plaster for eighteen months. At routine follow up aged 12, she was found to have a shorter right leg of 1 cm which was confirmed on CT scanogram. Within two months, she complained of left hip discomfort. X-rays taken showed a mild slip of her left upper femoral epiphysis with thickening of the epiphyseal line and a positive Trethowen’s sign. This was felt to be a chronic slip. The left hip epiphysis was pinned using a single cannulated screw. She was treated with non-weight bearing crutches for 6 weeks. The pain settled and she was walking pain free at 6 months post-operatively with full painless range of movement and no leg length discrepancy.

Discussion

A combination of Perthes disease and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCUFE) is very rare in children. Only a few cases have been found until date in the literature. SCFE can present as acute, chronic and acute on chronic types. This case is rather interesting because of the coexisting different hip pathologies in the same patient. Secondly Perthe’s and SCUFE are both common in males but in this case it’s a female patient. So far the literature have not found any correlation between these two conditions. But we can be vigilant that a child with Legg-Calve-Perthe’s disease in one hip may develop a slipped capital femoral epiphysis in the contralateral hip.

Differential Diagnosis List

Perthes disease in right hip, SCUFE in left hip.

Final Diagnosis

Perthes disease in right hip, SCUFE in left hip.

Liscense

Figures

AP view May 2004 - Perthe\'s disease Right hip

icon
AP view May 2004 - Perthe\'s disease Right hip

AP view Jan 2006 - SCUFE left hip

icon
AP view Jan 2006 - SCUFE left hip

AP \'Frog leg\' laterl view - showing healing bone at the inferior portion of the proximal femoral metaphysis.

icon
AP \'Frog leg\' laterl view - showing healing bone at the inferior portion of the proximal femoral metaphysis.

Post-operative radiographs after insitu fixation with single central cannulated screw

icon
Post-operative radiographs after insitu fixation with single central cannulated screw