Perthes disease

Perthes disease is a rare childhood condition that affects the hip. It occurs when the blood supply to the rounded head of the femur (thighbone) is temporarily disrupted. Without an adequate blood supply, the bone cells die, a process called avascular necrosis. Although the term "disease" is still used, Perthes is really a complex process of stages that can last several years. As the condition progresses, the weakened bone of the head of the femur (the ball of the ball-and-socket joint of the hip) gradually begins to collapse. Over time, the blood supply to the head of the femur returns and the bone begins to grow back. Treatment for Perthes focuses on helping the bone grow back into a more rounded shape that still fits into the cup-shaped acetabulum (the socket of the hip joint). This will help the hip joint move normally and prevent hip problems in adulthood. The long-term prognosis for children with Perthes is good in most cases. After 18 to 24 months of treatment, most children return to daily activities without major limitations. In the first stage of Perthes disease, the bone in the head of the femur slowly dies. There are four stages in Perthes disease: • Initial / necrosis. In this stage of the disease, the blood supply to the femoral head is disrupted and bone cells die. The area becomes intensely inflamed and irritated, and your child may begin to show signs of the disease, such as a limp or different way of walking. This initial stage may last for several months...

Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease ( LCPD) is a childhood hip disorder initiated by a disruption of blood flow to the head of the femur. Due to the lack of blood flow, the bone dies ( Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome Other names Perthes disease or Legg–Perthes disease Radiograph of a person with Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease Pronunciation • ˈ l ɛ ɡ k æ l ˈ v eɪ ˈ p ɜːr t iː z/ Pain in the hip, knee, ankle (hip pathology can refer pain to a normal knee or ankle), or groin. Usual onset 4 to 8 years Causes Artery of the ligmentum teres femoris being constricted or even blocked too early X-Ray Treatment Orthotics Frequency 1/1200 The condition is most commonly found in children between the ages of 4 and 8, but it can occur in children between the ages of 2 and 15. It can produce a permanent deformity of the femoral head, which increases the risk of developing Signs and symptoms The condition is most commonly found in children between the ages of 4 and 10. Common symptoms include pain in the hip, knee, or ankle (since hip pathology can cause pain to be felt in a normal knee or ankle), or in the groin; this pain is exacerbated by hip or leg movement, especially internal hip rotation (with the knee flexed 90°, twisting the lower leg away from the center of the body). The range of motion is reduced, particularly in abduction and internal rotation, and the patient presents with a limp. Pain is usually mild. Atrophy of thigh muscles may occur from disuse and an inequality of leg length. In some cas...

Perthes disease is a rare childhood condition affecting the hip joint. Bone in the “ball” (femur head) part of the “ball and socket” hip joint dies from lack of blood supply. When the blood supply returns, a new femoral head forms. Treatments include time/observation, drugs, physical therapy, casting and surgery. Most children return to normal activities without limitations. Overview What is Perthes Disease? Perthes disease, also called Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, is a rare condition of the hip that affects only children. It develops when there is a temporary loss of blood supply to the rounded head of the femur (thigh bone) – the “ball” part of the “ball and socket” hip joint. Blood supply is important for bone, as it delivers oxygen and nutrition to the bone. Lack of blood supply causes bone cells to die. This process is called How common is Perthes disease? Perthes disease is rare, afflicting about one in 10,000 children. Perthes disease usually affects children between the ages of four and eight years, but the range can extend to between two and 12 years old. Both hips are affected in up to 15% of children. Who gets Perthes disease? Perthes disease is five times more common in boys than in girls. Perthes disease often affects children who are very active, even athletic. Children tend to be smaller than average for their age. The disease is also more common in Asians, Eskimos and Caucasians. There is a much lower incidence rate in Native Americans, people with African h...

What is Perthes disease? Perthes disease is a childhood hip disorder caused by a disruption of blood flow to the ball of the hip joint, or femoral head. The loss of blood flow results in bone death, which is referred to as “avascular necrosis” or “ischemic necrosis” of the femoral head. Perthes disease is also referred to as Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease or Legg-Perthes disease. The names come from the three men who first reported the disease in 1910 – Arthur Legg (USA), Jacques Calvé (France), and Georg Perthes (Germany). What causes it? We do not know what causes the disruption of blood flow. Perthes disease does not have a strong genetic inheritance, and in fact, only about 5 percent of the patients have a family member with the condition. It also does not appear to be caused by direct hip injury. Some studies have shown an association between Perthes disease and exposure to cigarette smoking, rare blood clotting disorders, hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder, and minor congenital abnormalities like inguinal hernias and undescended testes. Who gets it? Perthes disease affects a wide age range of children but the most common age range is between 4 and 9. Boys are four times more likely affected than girls. Ten percent of patients will have Perthes in both hips, referred to as bilateral disease. Usually one side is affected first and followed by the other side a few years later. There is some variation in the frequency of Perthes disease between different regions an...

What is Perthes' disease? Perthes' disease mainly affects children who are aged between 3 and 10 years. Each year, about 1 in 10,000 children aged less than 15 years will get Perthes' disease. Four times more boys than girls are affected by the condition. Perthes' disease usually only affects one hip. But both hips are affected in about 1 in 7 children who have Perthes' disease. What are the symptoms of Perthes' disease? The symptoms usually develop gradually over a period of time. The first indication that a child may have Perthes' disease is when they develop a limp. The affected hip is often but not always painful. The symptoms may include: Pain The affected hip is often painful and pain is also felt in the groin. The pain is also often felt in the thigh and the knee. This is not because the knee is affected but because hip pain is often felt in the knee. This is called referred pain. Limb shortening The leg of the affected hip may become shortened compared with the unaffected side. Limp Children with Perthes' disease often develop a limp, which becomes gradually worse over a few weeks. Stiffness and a reduced range of movement As the hip becomes more damaged, the affected hip becomes stiff and the range of movements of the hip decreases. Muscle wasting Because the affected leg can't be used normally, the leg's muscles will become weaker. This causes the thigh muscles on the affected side to become wasted and so the leg looks thinner when you compare it with the other l...

• Legg-Calve-Perthes is a rare hip condition affecting children younger than 10 years old. • The cause of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is currently unknown. • Children with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease often develop a noticeable limp and may have some pain in the hip, pelvic and upper leg areas. • A physical exam, X-rays and an MRI scan are often used to diagnose Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. • There are medical and surgical treatments for Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, but surgical procedures are often not recommended for children under 6. What is Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease? Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, also known as Perthes disease, is a disorder of the hip in young children that usually occurs between the ages of 4 and 10. The hip is made up of the femoral head — the “ball,” which is the upper part of the femur — and the acetabulum — the “cup” that fits around the femoral head. In Perthes disease, the blood supply to the head of the femur is interrupted. The femoral head then “necroses,” or loses blood supply, which weakens the bone and can lead to multiple fractures. Next, the bone is taken up by the body, or resorbed, which can lead to a complete collapse of the femoral head. The blood supply does eventually return and the bone will re-form, or re-ossify. However, the bone may re-form with a different shape than it had before. Because of this, degenerative joint disease ( What causes Legg-Calve-Perthes disease? There are several theories. As mentioned above, the supply of blood...