A disease found in young boys, in which the upper end of the femur degenerates and does not develop as expected, sometimes resulting in a permanent limp.
A condition of the hip in children, due to death and fragmentation of the epiphysis (or spongy extremity) of the head of the femur resulting from failure of its blood supply. The disease occurs in the 4—10 year age-group, with a peak between the ages of six and eight; it is ten times more common in boys than girls, and occurs on both sides in 10 per cent of cases. The initial sign is a lurching gait with a limp, accompanied by pain. Treatment consists of limiting aggressive sporting activity which may cause intact overlying cartilage to loosen. Where there are no mechanical symptoms and MRI scanning shows that the cartilage is intact, only minor activity modification may be necessary but for several months or even years. Any breach in the cartilage is dealt with at arthroscopy by fixing or trimming any loose flaps. Sometimes surgical treatment is advised, such as tenotomy or osteotomy. Eventually the disease burns itself out. Further information is available from the Perthes Association.
Inflammation occurs in the growth region of the femur’s head, which is the thigh bone. This condition is a form of osteochondritis juvenilis and is believed to be caused by a disrupted blood flow to the bone.
This ailment is most prevalent in boys between the ages of five and ten, typically impacting one hip. Symptoms manifest as thigh and groin pain, accompanied by a limp on the side of the affected hip. Movement of the affected hip becomes limited and causes pain.
Diagnosis is determined through X-rays that can reveal flattening, fragmentation, and potential reduction in size of the femur’s head during advanced stages. Treatment typically involves a period of rest, potentially followed by hip splinting or surgery to ensure a more secure fit of the femur’s head into the pelvis. Although the condition often resolves on its own within three years, it might leave the hip with lasting deformities.