Background: Dysplasia epiphysealis capitis femoris is not well-known despite its relative frequency; its prognosis is difficult to predict.
Population and methods: Twenty children (19 boys and one girl) aged 2.5 to 7 years at diagnosis were included in the study. They had delayed capitis femoris apparition, or a fragmentation of dysplastic capitis femoris. The prognosis remained poor in 13 patients.
Discussion: Most authors consider that prognosis of this disease is always favorable. We failed to find early prognostic criteria; radiological findings valuable for prognosis are only present after 3 to 6 years.
Conclusion: Early new imaging techniques have to be evaluated before considering impossibility to foresee the evolution.