Ten years ago, our 14-year-old son was diagnosed with SCFE. I notice as a young adult he has an odd way of walking. It’s almost a limp but not quite. Is that the result of his hip surgery for the SCFE?

SCFE stands for: slipped capital femoral epiphysis. This is a condition that affects the hip. Teenagers, especially males, between the ages of 12 and 16 are the most likely to develop this condition. The actual cause or causes aren’t known.

With SCFE, the growth center of the hip called the capital femoral epiphysis slips backwards on the top of the femur (thighbone). Surgery is often needed to correct this deformity and prevent problems later.

The limp or change in your son’s gait pattern may be what’s called a Trendelenburg gait. Some people describe this as a lurching movement from side to side (or to one side if only one hip is affected).

This change can occur as a result of hip muscle weakness and/or residual deformity in the hip after the surgery. If the angle of the femoral head and neck isn’t perfect, the gluteus medius hip muscle can’t function at its best. Without a strong gluteus medius muscle, the pelvis drops giving the person the appearance of a limp.

An X-ray and a muscle test should help decide what’s causing the limp. It’s possible that an exercise program is all that’s needed. If the problem is in the hip joint, your son may be at increased risk for early arthritis. Now would be a good time to find out what’s going on and prevent future complications.