Slipped capital femoral epiphysis diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a disorder which afflicts children between the ages of 8 and 16 years of age. The underlying cause of SCFE is thought to be related to the relative weakness of the physis and strenuous physical activity in adolescence. If undetected SCFE can progress and cause significant complications such as AVN, avascular necrosis, leg length discrepancy, and premature osteoarthritis. Magnetic Resonance Imaging can detect early changes in the physis on T1 sequences and inversion recovery sequences and is a useful adjunct to plain radiographs in detecting early slips.