Perthes Disease

Perthes disease does not happen with any injury or any blood vessel problem, but mainly a childhood disorder which particularly affects the femur head leading to temporary loss of proper blood supply to the growth plate of the bone called the epiphysis, at the end of the bone. Due to it, the bones become softer and break down with a process known as necrosis. Usually, it is not a disease, but the name was mentioned when it was initially discovered. Treatments to it requires periods of control, restriction or limitation on everyday activities. Well, Perthes Disease takes place between 4-10 years of age among children and 5 times more common in boys when compared to the girls.

What are the symptoms of Perthes Disease?

The child presents the signs of limping and may complain a mild pain which may continue and lead to severe any time. Generally, pain is caused by the muscle spasm which may later result to irritation in the hip. Some feel the pain in the other parts of the leg like the groin, knee or thigh and when the hip is moved, the pain gets severe which can be relaxed with a strict rest.

How to diagnose the condition?

The disease is diagnosed by x-ray to begin the treatment. Not one or two, but more x-rays are taken to advise the treatment which may take two or more years for the treatment. Initially, the x-ray is worse when seen, but after treating it, certain improvements are observed in the x-ray presenting it as a good result of recovery from the disease.

Treatments for the disease

If the disease occurs in young children who are between the ages of 2-6 years, then x-ray is performed to begin the treatment with observation. In case, if the child is older than the mentioned age, then he or she is treated to improve the hips range of motion with surgical treatments.
Most of the physicians and surgeons recommend non surgical treatment to children who are young in age to lessen the inflammation in the hip joint. Certain medications are prescribed with physical therapy and bed rest, which for sure brings improvement in health and relief from pain.
In case of surgical treatment, surgery is performed to place the head of the femur within the acetabulum with screws and plates which can be removed later after recovery. Finally, the disease is cured with x-rays after surgery to know the condition and healing process all the way.