[Slipped capital femoral epiphysis and biosynthetic growth hormone therapy. A case report]

The case of an adolescent male with short stature and partial growth hormone deficiency who developed a slipped capital femoral epiphysis during the treatment with recombinant growth hormone is reported in this paper. Our patient started GH therapy with recombinant growth hormone at the dose of 15 U/m2/week administered subcutaneously three times a week. After 6 months of GH therapy there was a satisfactory response to the therapy and his growth velocity improved significantly. Unfortunately the patient had pain of the left hip which was exacerbated by walking. The diagnosis of slipped capital femoral epiphysis was confirmed radiographically and treated surgically with internal fixation of the epiphysis with the use of Moore's pins. Treatment with GH was discontinued. After one year there was the complete resolution of the disease and the adolescent was able to return at his usual way of life. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is a disease in which the anatomic relationship between the femoral head and neck changes by disruption of the epiphyseal plate. This condition can occur only before the epiphyseal plate closes. Patients vary in age from newborn infant to teenager, nevertheless slipped capital femoral epiphysis is probably the most common hip disease during adolescence, and is often associated with endocrine imbalance including growth hormone deficiency. The aetiology of slipped capital femoral epiphysis is still unknown although many theories have been proposed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)