Southwick angle
Southwick angle
Southwick angle (pronunciation: /ˈsaʊθwɪk ˈæŋɡəl/) is a medical term used in the field of Orthopedics. It is a measurement used to quantify the severity of slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), a hip condition commonly seen in adolescents.
Etymology
The term is named after Dr. Wayne O. Southwick, an American orthopedic surgeon who introduced the concept.
Definition
The Southwick angle is defined as the difference in the angle between a line perpendicular to the physis (growth plate) of the femoral head and a line parallel to the axis of the femoral neck, compared to the same angle on the unaffected side. This angle helps in determining the severity of the slip in SCFE.
Related Terms
- Orthopedics: The branch of medicine dealing with the correction of deformities of bones or muscles. This specialty, including surgical procedures, is where the Southwick angle is most commonly used.
- Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE): A hip condition that occurs in teens and pre-teens who are still growing. For unknown reasons, the ball at the head of the femur slips off the neck of the bone in a backward direction. This is caused by weakness of the growth plate. The Southwick angle is used to measure the severity of this condition.
- Physis: Also known as the growth plate, it is the area of growing tissue near the ends of the long bones in children and adolescents. The Southwick angle is measured in relation to this area in the femoral head.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Southwick angle
- Wikipedia's article - Southwick angle
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