Epiphyseometaphyseal cupping of the distal femoral epiphysis following scurvy in infancy.

Bilateral epiphyseometaphyseal cupping of the distal femoral epiphysis occurred in a 9-year-old girl with a history of infantile scurvy. This rare condition is characterized by a cup-shaped depression of the metaphyseal end, growth disturbance at the distal femoral epiphysis and knee flexion contracture which develops slowly over many years of bone growth. Conservative treatment by corrective plasters and back slabs brought about recovery of the right knee flexion contracture and halted the growth disturbance. However, in the left knee, extension supracondylar femoral osteotomies had to be performed and severe growth disturbance of the distal femoral epiphysis led to premature epiphyseal fusion.