Slipped upper femoral epiphysis in a 19-year-old male.

Abstract

The authors present a case of unilateral slipped upper femoral epiphysis (SUFE) in a 19-year old-male patient. An accompanying hypogonadism was noted on physical examination and laboratory tests. Extensive endocrinological work up revealed constitutional delay in puberty as the cause of hypogonadism. This is the first reported case of constitutional delay in puberty presenting with SUFE in English literature. There were six cases of SUFE reported in the literature at an age older than the typical age range (10-16 years), of which five cases were the result of hypopituitarism and one case of radiation-induced hypooestrogenism. Our case highlights the importance of thorough history taking, clinical examination and early involvement of the endocrinology team in SUFE presenting at an age older than the typical age range to prevent delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment.