Incidence and gender differences of slipped capital femoral epiphysis in the Netherlands from 1998–2010 combined with a review of the literature on the epidemiology of SCFE

Abstract

PurposeThe incidence of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) among children living in the Netherlands has never been published.MethodsThe national hospitalization registration system of the Netherlands was searched for the incidence of surgical procedures for SCFE in the Netherlands among different pediatric age groups between 1998 and 2010. International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes were used.Results and conclusionThe incidence of surgical procedures for SCFE during the last decade was 11.6 per 100,000 children aged 5 to 19 years. No statistical difference in the incidence of SCFE was found between boys and girls, although the incidence of SCFE did significantly increase in girls during the study period. Based on our analysis, the Netherlands appears to be the first country in which no difference in the incidence of SCFE among boys and girls has been reported. However, during the study period there has been a concomitant increase in the number of girls with SCFE.