Slipped capital femoral epiphysis after ipsilateral femoral neck fracture in an 11-year-old girl

Fractures of the neck of the femur account for less than 1% of all paediatric fractures. The complications after this injury are very frequent, the most significant being avascular necrosis. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis is a well-known disorder of the hip in children that is characterised by displacement of the capital femoral epiphysis from the metaphysic through the physis. In the vast majority of the cases, the aetiology is unknown, although, the condition may be associated with a known endocrine disorder, with renal osteodystrophy, or with previous radiation therapy. In the literature, delayed separation of the capital femoral epiphysis after a fracture of the femoral neck is very uncommon. We report one such case, which went on to heal with evidence of avascular necrosis.