Perthes Disease

Perthes disease is a rare childhood condition affecting the hip joint. Bone in the “ball” (femur head) part of the “ball and socket” hip joint dies from lack of blood supply. When the blood supply returns, a new femoral head forms. Treatments include time/observation, drugs, physical therapy, casting and surgery. Most children return to normal activities without limitations.

Overview

What is Perthes Disease?

Perthes disease, also called Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, is a rare condition of the hip that affects only children. It develops when there is a temporary loss of blood supply to the rounded head of the femur (thigh bone) – the “ball” part of the “ball and socket” hip joint.

Blood supply is important for bone, as it delivers oxygen and nutrition to the bone. Lack of blood supply causes bone cells to die. This process is called osteonecrosis, or avascular necrosis. The ball part of the femur can eventually collapse when the bone is weakened, if the blood supply is interrupted long enough. When the blood supply returns to the ball of the femur, the bone can improve its strength, but the shape of the femur can be permanently distorted.

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How common is Perthes disease?

Perthes disease is rare, afflicting about one in 10,000 children. Perthes disease usually affects children between the ages of four and eight years, but the range can extend to between two and 12 years old. Both hips are affected in up to 15% of children.

Who gets Perthes disease?

Perthes disease is five times more common in boys than in girls.

Perthes disease often affects children who are very active, even athletic. Children tend to be smaller than average for their age. The disease is also more common in Asians, Eskimos and Caucasians. There is a much lower incidence rate in Native Americans, people with African heritage, Polynesians, Blacks and in Australian aboriginals.

Exposure to secondhand smoke may also increase your child's risk of Perthes disease, although the exact reasons why are not known.

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Symptoms and Causes

What are the causes of Perthes diseases?

Technically, the ball of the femur dies because the blood supply to it is temporally cut off. The reason(s) why this happens are not well understood. There is some evidence that genetics may play a role, but more study is needed. The lack of a steady blood supply to the ball of the femur causes a sequence of events. First, bone cells in the head of the femur die. Next, weakness in this area causes the head of the femur to eventually collapse (usually occurs over a two-year period), and lose its roundness – this is called “fragmentation.” The damaged bone tissue is then absorbed by the body. When the blood supply returns, new bone tissue beings to grow and take the shape of a new femur head. This stage can last a few years. Lastly, the bone heals into its final shape, though this final shape is not always a perfect, round head.

How well the head of the femur heals into a rounded shape depends on the extent of the bone collapse and how old your child is at the time that the disease process started. Bone tends to reshape better in younger children and improves as the child grows.

What are the symptoms of Perthes disease?

The first symptoms of Perthes disease are usually a limp or a change in the way your child walks or runs. Your child may not even notice or feel these changes. You, as the parent, may be the first to see them while watching your child play.

Other symptoms include:

  • Pain in the hip area, or in the groin, thigh, or even the knee.
  • Irritation and inflammation in the hip area that may result in muscle spasms.
  • Pain with activity; relief when rest.
  • Stiffness or decreased motion in the hip joint

Pain may occur “on and off” for months. Pain occurs without an injury associated.

Some children don’t feel much or any pain at all. Perthes disease might not be discovered until an X-ray is taken due to a fall or other injury and the image shows your child is affected by this condition.

If your child has any of the above symptoms and you suspect he or she may have Perthes disease, it is important to contact your healthcare provider, who can begin to investigate.

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Diagnosis and Tests

How is Perthes disease diagnosed?

If your child is experiencing symptoms of Perthes disease, your healthcare provider will order an X-ray. X-rays are a common way to confirm a diagnosis. Your provider may also order additional studies, such as an MRI, to see how far the disease may have progressed.

Your healthcare provider may also use other tests to check the disease's progress. These include measuring your child’s thigh to determine if there is muscle atrophy (loss of muscle tissue). Your provider may also have your child perform some activities to test their range of motion.

Management and Treatment

How is Perthes disease treated?

Treatment for Perthes disease depends on the stage of your child’s condition and age of your child. The treatment often requires periods of immobilization (methods to keep your child’s hip from moving) and limits on normal activity. For young children, your physician may take a wait-and-see approach – treating with possible medications or weight-bearing restrictions. Older children may be treated surgically or nonsurgically.

Non-surgical treatments include the use of anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), naproxen sodium (Aleve®) and physical therapy. Some children may need to walk with crutches or be prescribed bed rest during the treatment process. If the disease continues to progress, the next step may be to place the child in a cast to keep the hips in the best position for healing. Generally, patients younger than six- to eight-years old can be treated without surgery.

If your healthcare provider determines that your child's condition is getting worse, surgery may be required. Surgical treatment can restore the proper alignment of the hip bones. Screws, plates and/or pins may be inserted to keep them in place (these will be removed at a later time). In order to protect the repair and maximize healing, there is a possibility that your child may need to be placed into a cast for six to eight weeks after surgery.

Following surgery, physical therapy will usually be required to help your child continue to heal.

Whether your child is treated surgically or non-surgically, a series of X-rays will be taken throughout the process to determine how he or she is healing. It is important to note that the amount of radiation your child receives with the these X-rays is a very small relative amount and is not a danger to your child’s future health.

Prevention

Can Perthes disease be prevented?

Unfortunately no. There are no known ways to prevent Perthes disease.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the prognosis for children diagnosed with Perthes disease?

Fortunately, Perthes disease can respond well to treatment. In most cases, after two to five years of treatment/observation, many children can return to their normal activities without limitations. Children who develop Perthes disease who are six years old or younger have an excellent prognosis with observation alone.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Although Perthes disease can’t be prevented, the good news is that treatments are available and they can be highly successful. Some children show no symptoms, others have mild pain and subtle symptoms. As the parent, be watchful of any change in your child’s walk or running mechanics or any evidence of a limp. If you see these changes, make an appointment to see your child’s healthcare provider.

Medically Reviewed

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/11/2020.

Learn more about our editorial process.

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