Legg- Calve Perthes Disease

Legg- Calve Perthes Disease is a childhood disorder affecting children between 4 to 10 years of age. This disease is more common among boys than girls. After 2 years of treatment, children normally return to their routine life without any major limitations.

What do we mean by Legg- Calve Perthes Disease?

Legg- Calve Perthes Disease (LCP or Perthes Disease) is a pathological condition affecting hip, where pelvis and thighbone meet in ball and socket joint. It is a temporary condition under which, blood flow supply to ball shaped head of thigh bone is temporarily lost, resulting into collapse of thigh bone. As the bone collapses or becomes flat, ball no longer moves smoothly in the hip socket and the area becomes inflamed and irritated.  The child may begin to limp with or without pain and there is reduced range of motion. Over a period of time, blood supply retraces back and new blood cells start replacing the dead ones gradually.

How is Legg- Calve Perthes Disease diagnosed?

 After your child’s through physical examination and taking notes of his medical history, your doctor of orthopedics may ask for diagnostic procedures including; x-rays, bone scans, MRI, arthrograms and blood tests.

How is Legg- Calve Perthes Disease treated?

Proper and adequate non-surgical or surgical treatment is prescribed to lessen the pain and help the femoral head to retain its shape. For the children under 6 years of age and usually for the children with less severe symptoms, non- surgical treatment options are adopted including:-

• Initially to help patient to regain his motion and reduce pain your doctor of orthopedics may suggest rest and limit the activities involving jumping and running.
• Anti- inflammatory medication is prescribed to lessen the swelling.
•  Bed rest in traction may be prescribed for some patients.
• Stretching exercises may be prescribed to retain the flexibility of hip and as well to keep the hip in socket.  
• If the doctor feels that your child need to avoid bearing weight on the involved hip, crutches are prescribed to protect hip joint.
• Casts may be prescribed to keep the femoral head with in the socket.
• Night- time brace may also be used to maintain hip flexibility .

Orthopedic Surgical Treatment

Children who are more than 6 years of age and who experience more severe symptoms and pain are advised surgical treatment. The surgical treatment aims at preventing dislocation or collapse of hip. Surgical treatment may include:-

• Contracture Release procedure is employed to lengthen the shortened tissues.
• Joint realignment is conducted where plates are used to hold the bones in place. Realignment of joint helps to restore the normal shape of hip joint.
• Surgery is performed to remove loose bits of bone and torn flaps of cartilages.

 Contact Center Of Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine for any of your musculoskeletal pathologies and disorders. Our board certified surgeon goes over an extra mile to provide you with the care and treatment you require and deserve.