At age 13 he suffered a slipped upper femoral epiphysis of the hip, which resulted in his spending nearly 20 months in hospital.
Muscle or ligament injuries can be contracted during heavy physical activity however, it is important not to miss a slipped upper femoral epiphysis.
The proximal head and the epiphysis are supplied by a branch of the anterior tibial artery.
Cartilage is progressively eroded and replaced by hardened bone, extending towards the epiphysis.
They usually originate from the epiphysis of long bones but in rare cases they may arise from anterior arc of the ribs.
Lesions are symmetrical, most common in the elbows, tibia, and fibula, and characteristically cause separation of an epiphysis and marked periosteal reactions.
Covey was athletic as a youth but contracted slipped capital femoral epiphysis in junior high school, requiring him to change his focus to academics.
Here a cut into the bone will find the abnormal epiphysis.
