What is Legg-Calve-Perthes disease?
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, also called Perthes disease, is a rare condition that affects one or both hips. It develops in children, usually between the ages of 3 to 12. The condition temporarily cuts off the blood supply to the top of the thigh bone, also called the femoral head. This causes bone cells to weaken, making walking and running painful and difficult.
The word "disease" is still used, but Perthes is actually a process with different stages that can take several years. Most children with Perthes have a good long-term outlook. After 18 to 24 months of treatment, they can usually return to normal daily activities without major limitations.
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease symptoms
The first symptom most parents notice is a difference in the way their child walks and runs. In the condition’s early stages, your child may limp even if they don’t complain of pain. As the condition progresses, children may develop lower body pain that gets worse with activity.
This pain may cause your child to limp or have an unusual run. The change may be more obvious if your child plays sports or is engaged in other athletic activities.
Other signs and symptoms include:
- Hip stiffness
- Muscle spasms
- One leg appears shorter than the other
- Pain in the hip(s), knee, thigh or groin that worsens with activity
- Thinning of the affected thigh muscle
Perthes disease mostly affects one hip. However, in about 10 to 12 percent of cases, both hips are affected, though usually not at the same time.
When to see a doctor
Schedule an appointment with your child’s pediatrician if you notice your child repeatedly favoring one side when they walk or run or if they display other possible symptoms of Perthes disease. If needed, your pediatrician can refer your child to a hip specialist. The sooner treatment starts, the fewer complications your child may experience.
What causes Legg-Calve-Perthes disease?
Your bones need a regular supply of blood to stay healthy. Blood delivers oxygen and nutrients that keep them strong. In children with Perthes disease, the blood supply to the femoral head is disrupted. The exact cause of this is unknown. Without enough oxygen and nutrients, the bone cells in the femoral head begin to die. Recent studies have found a possible connection between blood clotting disorders and Perthes disease.
Perthes disease risk factors
Perthes disease affects about 1 in 1,200 children, most between the ages of 3 and 12, but children can be as young as 2 when signs first appear. The condition is more common in children who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and boys are four to five times more likely than girls to develop it.
How is Perthes disease diagnosed?
Children’s bones heal quickly and can often repair themselves. Early diagnosis and treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease give the thighbone more time to reshape into a round form. Your child’s doctor will do a physical exam and review their medical history. They may order X-rays to look at the bones and use lab tests to rule out other possible causes.
Perthes disease treatment
Treatment of Perthes disease aims to manage your child’s pain and discomfort, help restore range of motion in the hips, and ensure a secure, permanent fit of the ball of the hip joint into the socket once it’s fully re-formed.
If your child is younger than 6 years old, they may only require nonsurgical treatment options. Treatment options also depend on how much damage the ball and socket joint has sustained and where your child is in the condition’s process.
Locations
If your child is living with Perthes Disease, we offer several locations for their care, including specialty orthopedic centers in North and Central Texas.
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