Legge Perthes Disease is also known as Legge Calve Perthes or Perthes Syndrome.
Legge Perthes Disease
Legge Perthes disease is an inflammation of the femoral head, most possibly due to loss of blood supply. The femoral head is the ball on the end of the thighbone that fits into the socket of the hip joint. This disease may eventually lead to destruction of the femoral head.
If the blood supply to the femoral head is lost for any reason, the bone cells die. This can cause the round femoral head to lose its shape. The bone changes may cause arthritis, or chronic joint inflammation. Ninety percent of the time, only one hip is affected.
The exact cause of Legge Perthes disease is unknown. It is thought to be linked to disrupted blood supply to the bone. This disease typically usually occurs between the ages of 4 and 8 with boys being four times more likely to be affected than girls.
Symptoms / Signs
Legge- Perthes disease usually causes pain in the thigh and groin. The pain may go down the front of the thigh to the knee. Most often the afflicted will develop a pronounced limp and often a pigeon towed type walk or “toeing in”. Movement of the hip may be restricted and painful, especially when the person spreads his or her legs apart.
Diagnosis & Tests
A simple test is to lie the patient down on their back. A simple test of mobility in the legs and hips is conducted. The patient is asked to pull each leg to their chest. In addition a leg roll test is conducted. Each leg is rolled from side to side to test for mobility. If there is pain or lack of mobility in either or both tests n and there has been a previous history of leg pain and limping then additional diagnosis is required. It begins with a history and physical exam. Several weeks after the pain begins, joint X-rays may show minor changes in the femoral head. Much later, the femoral head may collapse and flatten. If X-rays are normal at first and suspicion is high, the healthcare provider may order a bone scan or MRI.
Prevention / Expectations
There is no known way to prevent Legge-Calve-Perthes disease.
About 50% of children, even with no treatment, will do well. The other half of affected children may have arthritis even as teenagers. The older the child at the time of onset, the worse the outcome. Prognosis is especially poor if the femoral head cannot fit securely in the pelvis.
Contagious Risk
Legge-Calve-Perthes disease is not contagious, and poses no risk to others.
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