Bilateral slipped upper femoral epiphysis: a rare manifestation of renal osteodystrophy. Case report with discussion of its pathogenesis.

Bilateral slipped upper femoral epiphysis is a rare manifestation of renal osteodystrophy. A case of bilateral slipped femoral epiphysis in an 18-year old male suffering from chronic renal failure due to oligomeganephronic renal hypoplasia with profound signs of renal osteodystrophy is presented. Serum growth hormone levels were high, while those of urinary 17-ketosteroids were decreased. Following subtotal parathyroidectomy, the progression of the process leading to slipped epiphysis was halted with closure of the epiphyses. The patient was subsequently treated with chronic hemodialysis for several months, after which successful renal transplantation was performed. The pathogenesis of renal osteodystrophy leading to slipped epiphysis is discussed and attention drawn to the fact that bilateral slipped femoral epiphysis may be the first clinical sign of chronic renal insufficiency.