Common hip concerns we treat
- Pain that limits walking, lifting, or sleep
- Stiffness, swelling, or reduced range of motion
- Sports injuries: acute or overuse
- Arthritis or post-traumatic joint changes
- Conditions other doctors couldn't resolve
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)
A slipped hip growth plate in adolescents
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a hip condition in adolescents where the ball of the hip joint slips off the femoral neck through the growth plate. It requires urgent surgical evaluation. Same-day evaluations across eight LA-area offices; keep your child off the leg until seen. If your child cannot put any weight on the leg, go to the emergency room.
See a specialist this week
Board-certified surgeons and podiatrists across eight Los Angeles area neighborhoods.
Book a visitOr call (323) 264-7600
What sets LAOSS apart
- Same- or next-day appointments at eight Los Angeles-area offices
- On-site imaging; PT coordinated with your in-network provider
- Conservative-first care, surgery only when needed
- Board-certified specialists, not generalists
Key takeaways
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is one of many hip conditions our specialists evaluate every day.
- SCFE is different from most hip conditions: it usually needs prompt surgical stabilization to protect the growth plate and the hip's blood supply.
- When a procedure is the right call, we explain every option, recovery timeline, and return-to-activity milestone.
- On-site imaging at most offices and same-day appointments across eight Los Angeles-area locations.
What is slipped capital femoral epiphysis?
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is a hip condition in adolescents where the ball of the hip joint slips off the femoral neck through the growth plate. It requires urgent surgical evaluation. Symptoms can develop gradually or after a specific injury, so early evaluation matters when function starts to decline.
SCFE is almost always treated with surgery. The standard operation places a screw across the growth plate to stop the slip from getting worse. Until surgery, your child should stay off the leg, using crutches or a wheelchair, because walking on it can make the slip worse.
Below, we walk through the anatomy involved, the symptoms and causes we most often see, how we diagnose slipped capital femoral epiphysis, and the full range of treatment options, from the simplest to the most involved.
Watch: Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)
This is a problem with the head of the femur in growing children. With this condition, the ball-like head slips out of place in the hip socket. It moves down and back. This slip happens at the femur's neck, along a growth plate. That's where new bone develops. Growth plates are weaker than the surrounding bone.
Inside the hip.
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint built for both stability and a wide range of motion. The ball (femoral head) sits inside the socket (acetabulum) and is cushioned by smooth cartilage. The labrum, a rim of cartilage around the socket, adds depth and a seal. Most hip pain comes from wear of that cartilage, labral injury, or bony impingement between the ball and socket.
Symptoms and causes of slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Common symptoms
- Groin, thigh, or knee pain in an adolescent
- Limp
- Outward-turned leg
- Limited ability to rotate the hip inward
Common causes
- Most common in adolescents 10 to 16
- Obesity
- Rapid growth phase
- Endocrine disorders (thyroid, growth hormone)
How we diagnose slipped capital femoral epiphysis
You want answers, fast, and we're built to give them. Most patients leave their first LAOSS visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan, not another referral chain.
Here's what your initial visit for slipped capital femoral epiphysis typically looks like:
- Detailed history: when it started, what makes it better or worse, what you've already tried
- Focused exam of the hip: range of motion, stability, strength, specific provocation tests
- On-site imaging at most offices: X-ray for bone, ultrasound or MRI when soft-tissue detail is needed
- A written plan with options ranging from conservative care to surgical procedures, in plain English
Schedule your evaluation at the LAOSS office nearest you.
How we treat slipped capital femoral epiphysis at LAOSS
Once we've confirmed the diagnosis, the goal is to stabilize the growth plate quickly and protect the hip's blood supply.
Supportive care
Around surgeryBefore and after surgery
SCFE is not treated with therapy, bracing, or injections alone. Non-surgical care supports the hip around the operation.
- No weight on the affected leg until the hip is stabilized (crutches or a wheelchair)
- Prompt surgery once the diagnosis is confirmed
- Checking the other hip, which can slip too
- Protected weight-bearing and physical therapy after surgery
- Follow-up X-rays until the growth plate closes
Surgical care
Standard treatmentSurgical treatment
Minimally invasive and reconstructive procedures performed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons.
- In-situ screw fixation to stabilize the growth plate
- Urgent stabilization for unstable slips
- Preventive pinning of the other hip in select children
- Corrective osteotomy for severe deformity
- Treatment of later hip impingement if it develops
Why experience matters.
Why experience matters
Hip care is highly technique-dependent. Volume, training, and judgment together determine the outcome you actually feel six months later.
- Precise diagnosis from imaging and exam
- Conservative-first care that avoids unnecessary surgery
- Surgical technique refined over thousands of cases
- On-site imaging + coordinated PT through your in-network provider
The LAOSS approach
Our hip specialists move stepwise: start with the least-invasive option that fits your situation, escalate only when it doesn't.
- Same-day imaging at most offices
- PT coordinated in your insurance network
- Board-certified surgeons performing the procedures themselves
- Direct access to your specialist between visits
Am I a candidate?
If most of these match your situation, an evaluation with a hip specialist is the next step.
You may be a candidate if
These signs typically point toward an in-person evaluation with a hip specialist.
- Pain or stiffness in the hip that lasts more than a few days
- Swelling, instability, or noticeable change in function
- Symptoms that limit walking, lifting, sleep, or work
- Previous treatment that didn't fully resolve the problem
- Imaging or exam findings that suggest an underlying issue
What evaluation includes
Your first visit is built to give you an answer the same day, not just another referral.
- Detailed history: onset, mechanism, what makes it better or worse
- Hands-on exam focused on the affected joint or region
- On-site imaging at most offices (X-ray, ultrasound)
- Clear plan with options ranging from conservative to surgical
- Same-day or next-day scheduling for any follow-up tests
ImportantSeek urgent evaluation for sudden severe pain, numbness, progressive weakness, or any sign of infection (fever, increasing redness or swelling).
Your hip recovery roadmap.
Recovery is rarely a straight line, but a clear plan with measurable milestones makes the path predictable.
- Days 0 to 14
Right after care
In the first two weeks we focus on protecting the hip, calming inflammation, and restoring basic motion.
- Activity modification with clear do/don't guidance
- Ice, elevation, and pain control as needed
- Crutches with limited weight on the leg, as your surgeon directs
- Follow-up scheduled to track healing
- Weeks 2 to 8
Rehabilitation
Targeted physical therapy rebuilds strength, mobility, and confidence in the hip.
- Progressive strengthening and neuromuscular work
- Manual therapy and soft-tissue treatment
- No running, jumping, or sports until your surgeon clears them
- Coordinated PT through your in-network provider
- Months 2+
Long-term care
Follow-up continues until the growth plate closes, with X-rays of both hips to watch for a slip on the other side.
- Return-to-activity plan with measured benchmarks
- Prompt re-check for a new limp or hip, thigh, or knee pain on either side
- Maintenance visits or imaging if symptoms change
- Direct line back to your specialist if needed
Risks & considerations
What to weigh before you decide.
We talk through the risks and benefits with every patient. Informed consent is a conversation, not a form.
General considerations
Every orthopedic intervention carries a small set of standard risks. We screen, prepare, and monitor for these on every patient.
- Infection (rare with modern technique and prophylaxis)
- Bleeding or bruising at the treatment site
- Reaction to anesthesia or medications
- Need for additional procedures in some cases
Hip considerations
Some risks are tied to the structures we're treating in the hip. We discuss these in detail at your visit so you can weigh them against the benefits.
- Temporary stiffness or weakness during recovery
- Incomplete pain relief in a small percentage of cases
- Nerve or vessel irritation near the treatment area
- Need for follow-up therapy to fully restore function
Meet our hip doctors in the Greater Los Angeles area
At LAOSS, our hip specialists are board-certified and treat these problems every day. From minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to joint replacement and arthritis management, our physicians bring decades of experience to every case. We have cared for Los Angeles patients since 2007, with one goal for each: less pain, better movement, and a return to the activities you love.
Meet your hip specialists.
Compare up to 34 providers
Accepting new patients
Erik Dworsky, MD
Hip & Knee Surgeon
Speaks English and Spanish
Habla español
- Santa Fe Springs
Accepting new patients
David Barba, MD
Hip & Knee Surgeon
Speaks English and Spanish
Habla español
- Wilshire
- East Los Angeles
Prompt SCFE care starts here
Don't let slipped capital femoral epiphysis be something you just power through. With same- or next-day appointments at multiple Los Angeles locations, you'll never wait weeks or months for answers. The same team handles your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. From prompt stabilization surgery through recovery and follow-up of the other hip, we plan it with you and coordinate each step.
Call or schedule online today to see a hip specialist in Los Angeles.
Common SCFE questions
- We start with a focused orthopedic exam and detailed history. X-rays are usually done in-office; MRI or ultrasound is ordered when soft-tissue detail is needed. Most patients leave the first visit with a clear diagnosis and a written plan.
Don't wait on pain.
Book a visit with a hip specialist at any of our eight Los Angeles-area offices.
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21 specialists · 8 offices
Greater Los Angeles
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