Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis
Definition
Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis (SUFE) is also called Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis is a condition involving the hip joint.
The hip joint is made up of a ball at the top of the thighbone (called the femoral head) which sits inside the socket (called the acetabulum) of the pelvis.
With SUFE, the growth plate which is located in the femoal head, slips downward and backward. A growth plate is where your bone grows and is an area of weakness.
The exact cause of SUFE is not yet known, but teenagers with increased weight or have certain hormone problems are at greater risk. Boys are more commonly affected than girls.
6 September, 2011