Prognosis is related to the initial severity of the slip, success of surgery, avoidance of serious complications, underlying disorders, and bilaterality.[55]Tudisco C, Caterini R, Farsetti P, et al. Chondrolysis of the hip complicating slipped capital femoral epiphysis: long-term follow-up of nine patients. J Pediatr Orthop B. 1999 Apr;8(2):107-11.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10218171?tool=bestpractice.com
A study of stable SCFE cases treated with surgical dislocation of the hip noted that 87% of cases had some degree of labral damage and 85% of cases had some degree of cartilage damage.[56]Sink EL, Zaltz I, Heare T, et al. Acetabular cartilage and labral damage observed during surgical hip dislocation for stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2010 Jan-Feb;30(1):26-30.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20032738?tool=bestpractice.com
While studies suggest that most patients have good functional and radiological outcomes after in situ pinning, in one study, 33% of patients reported persistent mild pain after an average follow-up period of 16 years.[2]Mathew SE, Larson AN. Natural history of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2019 Jul;39(6):S23-7.
https://journals.lww.com/pedorthopaedics/fulltext/2019/07001/natural_history_of_slipped_capital_femoral.7.aspx
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31169643?tool=bestpractice.com
[57]Larson AN, Sierra RJ, Yu EM, et al. Outcomes of slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated with in situ pinning. J Pediatr Orthop. 2012 Mar;32(2):125-30.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22327445?tool=bestpractice.com
About 5% of patients with SCFE require total hip arthroplasty at 20 years follow-up, most commonly due to avascular necrosis.[2]Mathew SE, Larson AN. Natural history of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2019 Jul;39(6):S23-7.
https://journals.lww.com/pedorthopaedics/fulltext/2019/07001/natural_history_of_slipped_capital_femoral.7.aspx
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31169643?tool=bestpractice.com
Associated conditions like obesity may contribute to a long-term increased risk of disability and mortality.[2]Mathew SE, Larson AN. Natural history of slipped capital femoral epiphysis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2019 Jul;39(6):S23-7.
https://journals.lww.com/pedorthopaedics/fulltext/2019/07001/natural_history_of_slipped_capital_femoral.7.aspx
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31169643?tool=bestpractice.com