Chen YF, Ning K, Xie YY, Liu C, Ding YT, Tang ZW, Wen J, Xiao S, Li YF. Internal diseases and molecular mechanisms causing slipped capital femoral epiphysis in children. World J Orthop 2025; 16(11): 110155 [DOI: 10.5312/wjo.v16.i11.110155]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Jie Wen, Editor, Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, No. 61 West Jiefang Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China. cashwj@qq.com
Research Domain of This Article
Pediatrics
Article-Type of This Article
Review
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Orthop. Nov 18, 2025; 16(11): 110155 Published online Nov 18, 2025. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v16.i11.110155
Internal diseases and molecular mechanisms causing slipped capital femoral epiphysis in children
Yi-Fan Chen, Ke Ning, Yu-Yin Xie, Can Liu, Yi-Tong Ding, Zhong-Wen Tang, Jie Wen, Sheng Xiao, Yu-Fei Li
Yi-Fan Chen, Yu-Yin Xie, Zhong-Wen Tang, Jie Wen, Sheng Xiao, Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
Ke Ning, Can Liu, Yi-Tong Ding, Yu-Fei Li, Department of Anatomy, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China
Co-first authors: Yi-Fan Chen and Ke Ning.
Co-corresponding authors: Zhong-Wen Tang and Jie Wen.
Author contributions: Chen YF was responsible for the conceptualization of the work; Ning K carried out the investigation; Chen YF and Ning K contributed equally to this article, they are the co-first authors of this manuscript; Xie YY conducted the formal analysis; Liu C developed the methodology; Ding YT handled data curation; Tang ZW provided the necessary resources; Wen J performed validation; Tang ZW and Wen J contributed equally to this article, they are the co-corresponding authors of this manuscript; Xiao S was in charge of visualization; Li YF oversaw the work as the supervisor; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
Supported by the Science Project of Hunan Provincial Healthy Commission, No. 20230844.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Jie Wen, Editor, Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, No. 61 West Jiefang Road, Changsha 410013, Hunan Province, China. cashwj@qq.com
Received: May 30, 2025 Revised: July 6, 2025 Accepted: October 24, 2025 Published online: November 18, 2025 Processing time: 168 Days and 15.7 Hours
Abstract
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a hip disorder that predominantly affects adolescents. The primary pathological change involves the displacement of the femoral head epiphysis from its normal position at the growth plate toward the metaphysis of the femoral neck. This condition can result in hip pain, abnormal gait, and even avascular necrosis of the femoral head, significantly impacting the quality of life in adolescents. Currently, the exact etiology of SCFE remains unclear; however, evidence suggests that risk factors include endocrine disorders, metabolic conditions, and genetic diseases. Endocrine disorders encompass hypothyroidism, growth hormone abnormalities, hypogonadism, and obesity-related hormonal imbalances. Metabolic conditions involve obesity, vitamin D deficiency or rickets, and renal osteodystrophy. Genetic diseases include mutations in the COL2A1 gene, aromatase deficiency, and Prader-Willi syndrome. This review summarizes various medical conditions associated with SCFE and elucidates potential molecular mechanisms from abnormal chondrocyte function in the growth plate, hormonal imbalances and inflammatory/metabolic factors in SCFE based on relevant literature, aim to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of SCFE.
Core Tip: Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is an adolescent hip disorder causing hip pain, abnormal gait, and potential avascular necrosis. Although its exact cause is unknown, risk factors include endocrine disorders (e.g., hypothyroidism, growth hormone abnormalities), metabolic conditions (e.g., obesity, renal osteodystrophy), and genetic diseases (e.g., COL2A1 mutations). This article summarizes these associated conditions and explores potential mechanisms involving growth plate chondrocyte dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, and inflammatory/metabolic factors, aiming to support slipped capital femoral epiphysis prevention and treatment.
