The contralateral hip in slipped capital femoral epiphysis

The risk of contralateral slipping in slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) has been estimated to be 40-80% in follow-up examinations. Before age 50 years, 25% of the contralateral hips with untreated slipping showed arthrosis, some severe. In the same long-term follow-up, no hip with mild or moderate slipping treated with pinning in situ had developed severe arthrosis at that age, indicating the risk of arthrosis in the contralateral hip in SCFE can be reduced by prophylactic pinning. Prophylactic pinning also diminishes the need for repeated radiographical examination during the remaining growth period. Provided that a technique with a low complication rate is used, prophylactic pinning of the contralateral hip is recommended in all cases of SCFE.