Causes of Delayed Diagnosis of Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: The Importance of the Frog Lateral Pelvis Projection.

Delayed diagnosis and treatment is a universally reported problem that impairs the prognosis of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Quite frequently, a delayed diagnosis of SCFE is observed in spite of serial admissions and examinations of the limping adolescent. Why do health professionals globally fail to make a definitive diagnosis of SCFE during the first examination of the patient? A retrospective study of 36 adolescents treated for stable SCFE and two adolescents treated for unstable SCFE has been performed.