HISTORY
Arthur Legg described prominent
characteristics of the disorder: onset
between 5 and 8 years, history of
trauma, painless limp, minimal or no
spasm or shortening of affected limb.
Jacques Calvenoted that affected
individuals had minimal atrophy of
the leg and no palpable hip swelling;
abnormal or delayed bone formation
Georg Perthesobserved the disorder as “a
self limiting, non inflammatory condition,
affecting the capital femoral epiphysis with
stages of degeneration and regeneration,
leading to restoration of the bone nucleus”
Henning Waldenstromreported radiographic
changes associated with the disorder in
1909; thought the disease was a form of
Tuberculosis.
Epidemiology
Incidence 1-4/10,000
Age 4 -10years; average 7 yrs
As early as 2yrs as late as teens
Boys : girls 4:1
Bilateral 10-12%
No evidence of inheritance
Common in Caucasians; rare in black races
ETIOLOGY
1. Vascular supply: Medial circumflex artery is missing or obliterated and obturator
artery or lateral epiphyseal artery also affected.
2. Increased intra-articular pressure
3. Increased intraosseous pressure: Impaired venous drainage in femoral head
4. Coagulation disorder: Absence of factor C or S, increase in serum levels of
lipoproteins, thrombogenicsubstance, Factor V Leiden mutation.
5. Growth hormones-Reduced levels of growth hormones, somatomedin A and C.
6. Social conditions-Lower socioeconomic status, dietary and environmental
factors.
7.Trauma: Risk of vascular interruption increased due to narrow passage and
thick cartilage of femoral head penetrated by lateral epiphyseal arteries
8. Abnormal growth and development: Bone age is lower than chronological
age by 1-3 yrs(Radiological pause). Usually shorter than their peers.
9. Genetic factors
-Inheritance 2-20%; inconsistent pattern.
-Low birth weight, abnormal birth presentations.
-Ratio of affected 1
st
, 2
nd
, 3
rd
and 4
th
degree relatives to general
population of the same set –35: 4: 4:1
Pathophysiology
Rapid growth occurs in relation to devlopmentof blood supply
Interruption of blood supply results in necrosis, removal of necrotic
tissue, and its replacement with new bone.
Bone replacement may be so complete and perfect that completely
normal bone may result
The adequacy of bone replacement depends on
Age of the patient
Congruity of the involved joint
Sources of blood supply
Up to 4years
Metaphysealvessels
Retinacularvessels
Ligamentumteres–scanty
4 to 7 years
Metaphysealvessels ceases
Above 7years
Vessels in ligamentumtereshave developed
Pathology
Goes through stages which may last 3 to 4 years
Stage1
Ischaemia and bone death, cartilage thickens
Stage 2
Revascularization and repair
Dead marrow replaced by granulation tissue
Bone revascularized and new bone laid down
Dead bone resorbed, replaced by fibrous tissue, fragmentation
Stage 3
Distortion and remodelling
Restoration of femoral archtecture or collapse
Femoral head displaces laterally in relation to acetabulum
Classification
Waldenstromclassification
Catterallclassification
Salter and thompsonclassification
Herring classification
Stage Ia Stage Ib Stage IIa Stage IIb
Stage IIIa Stage
IIIb
Stage
IV
Catterall classification
Group I: Only anterior portion of epiphysis
affected
Group II: More of anterior segment involved;
central sequestrum present
Group III: Most of the epiphysis sequestrated,
with unaffected portions located medial and
lateral to central segment
Group IV: Entire epiphysis sequestrated
BENIGN
PROGNOSIS
REQUIRE
TREATMENT
CATTERALL classification
Group I Group
II
Group III Group IV
HEAD-AT-RISK FACTORS
Lateral subluxation of femoral head
Radiolucent V in the lateral aspect of
epiphysis (Gage sign)
Calcification lateral to epiphysis
Horizontal physealline
Metaphyseal cyst
Salter-Thompson
classification
Based on extent of subchondral fracture on AP
and lateral views
Group A: Less than half of femoral head
involvement
Group B: More than half of femoral head
involvement
Advantage: Applicable at an earlier time point
than Catterallor lateral pillar classification
Disadvantage: Subchondral fracture present in
only 30 % of patients
SALTER sign
As disease progresses, a
subchondral fracture may be seen
on anterolateral aspect of femoral
capital epiphysis
Crescent sign/ Caffey’s sign
Early radiographic feature best
seen on frog leg lateral view
HERRING’s LATERAL PILLAR
Classification
Bilateral involvement
More severe than unilateral
Boys and girls equally affected
Independent event
Bone age delayed in perthes disease
ClInical features
Incidence: higher latitude, western coastal region of South India
Onset: 18 months to skeletal maturity (Most prevalent: 4-8 years)
Male sex prevalence: Boys 4-5 times more susceptible
Involvement: Bilateral in 10-12 %
SYMPTOMS
Limp
Pain
History of antecedent trauma
Waxing and waning symptoms
SIGNS
Small stature
Atrophy of gluteus, quadriceps and
hamstring muscles
Abductor limp ( Antalgic +
Trendelenburg gait)
Decreased hip ROM especially abduction
and internal rotation (Transient early in
disease, persistent later on)
Positive Trendelenburg test
Resistance to logroll
Investigations
Blood tests
haemogram, ESR, CRP
Imaging
Plain X-rays
Hip U/S
Bone scintigraphy
MRI
Dynamic arthrography
Assess spherityof femoral head
Hinge abduction
Bilateral perthes
Skeletal survey as part of work-up
MRI
Accurate for early diagnosis and for
visualising configuration of femoral head
and acetabulum
More reliable information about true
extent of femoral head necrosis than
radiography or scintigraphy
Gadolinium enhanced subtraction MRI as
effective as scintigraphy in delineating
epiphyseal necrosis early
De Sanctisclassification:
Group A: < 50 % head necrosis
Group B: > 50 % head necrosis
B0-B3 based on degrees of lateral
extrusion and physealdisruption
TREATMENT OPTIONS
1. SYMPTOMATIC THERAPY
Bed rest
Non weight bearing on affected limb
Short term use of NSAIDs
Traction:
Simple longitudinal traction
Balanced suspension and traction
Russell traction
“Slings and springs”
CONTAINMENT BY BRACING OR CASTING:
Aims at repositioning extruded anterolateral part of femoral
epiphysis into confines of acetabulum
Achieved by abducting and flexing or internally rotating the hip
Needs to be ensured until healing progresses beyond late part
of stage of regeneration ( upto2 years)
Femoral head reforms in a concentric manner-Biological
plasticity
Broomstick plasters (Petrie casts)
Snyder sling
A-frame
brace
Toronto brace
Treatment: Two main choices
Conservative
Pain control
Gentle exercises
Regular re-assessment
Avoid sport and strenous activities
Containment
Hold hips widely abducted in cast/brace >1yr
Operation
Varus osteotomy of femur
Innominate osteotomy of pelvis
Both
Herring Guidelines to treatment
Children <6years
Symptomatic treatment
Children >6years; bone age more imp than chronological age
Bone age at or <6yrs
Lateral pillar A or B/ caterallI and II
Symptomatic treatment
Lateral pillar C/ CaterallIII and IV
Bone over 6years
Herring A and B/CaterallI and II
Abduction brace or osteotomy
Herring C/CaterallIII and IV
Outcome unaffected by treatment
Children 9yrs and older
Except in very mild cases, operative containment is the treatment of choice
Prognostic features
Age
<6yrs; good regardless of treatment
6-9years; not always satisfactory with containment
>10yrs; questionable benefit from containment, poor prognosis
Gender
Girls have worse prognosis
Classification grade
Herrings lateral pillar classification
Salter and thompsongrade B worse prognosis
Caterralclassification grade
Caterral“head-at-risk” signs
The five signs carry worse prognosis
Others
Body weight, decreased ROM
SLIPPED CAPITAL FEMORAL EPIPHYSIS
SCFE
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) is an condition of the proximal
femoral physis thatleads to slippage of the metaphysis relative to the
epiphysis,and is most commonlyseen in adolescent obese males
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Most common disorder affecting adolescent hips
Found in 10 per 100,000
More common in
Obesechildren, associated with puberty
Males(male to female ratio is 2:1.4)
Specific ethnicities-African Americans,Pacific islanders, Latinos
During period ofrapid growth(10-16 years of age)
location
left hip is more common
bilateral in 17% to 50% (~25%)
RISK FACTORS
Obesity
Single greatest risk factor
Recent data shows trend towards younger age and increased frequency of
bilaterality at presentation, possibly related to increased rates of
childhood obesity
Acetabular retroversionandfemoral retroversion
Increased mechanical shearing forces at the physis
History of previousradiation therapyto the femoral head region
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Due mechanical forces acting on a susceptible physis
Pathoanatomy
Slippage occurs though thehypertrophic zoneof the physis
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Perichondrial ringthins and weakens
Undulating mammillary processes in physis unlocks, further
destabilizing the physis
Physis is still vertical in this age group (160°at birth to 125°at skeletal
maturity), resulting in increased shearing forces
Epiphyseal tubercle can provide a rotational pivot point
Anatomic structure in the posterior superior epiphysis that shrinks with
skeletal maturity
Cartilage in the hypertrophic zone acts as a weak spot
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Angulation
Metaphysistranslatesanterior
and externally rotates
Epiphysisremains in the
acetabulum, liesposterior to the
translated metaphysis
Similar toSalter-Harris type
Ifracture
PRESENTATION
CLINICAL FEATURES
Abnormal gait / limp
Antalgic, waddling, externally rotated
gait or Trendelenburg gait
Decreased hip motion
Obligatory external rotationduring
passiveflexion of hip (Drehmannsign)
Due to a combination of synovitis and
impingement of the displaced anterior-
lateral femoral metaphysis on the
acetabular rim
CLINICAL FEATURES
Loss of hip internal rotation, abduction, andflexion
Abnormal leg alignment
Externally rotated foot progression angle
Weakness
Thigh atrophy
ASSESSMENT XRAY
CLASSIFICATION
TREATMENT
Percutaneous in situ
fixation.
Contralateral prophylactic
insitu fixation.
Severe cases:
open epiphyseal
reduction and fixation.
proximal femoral
osteotomy
TREATMENT
a)MCQ’s
1)Average age of onset of perthesdisease is :
a)5y
b)6y
c)7y
d)8y
2)Which of the following is true:
a)Autosomal dominant
b)Bilateral in 1-2%
c)Boys : girls -1 : 4
d)Self limiting
3)Which of the following is head at risk sign:
a)Salters sign
b)Gazes sign
c)Caffeys sign
d)Crescent sign
4)Gazes sign means:
a)Radiolucent V in lateral aspect of epiphysis
b)Metaphyseal crest
c)Lateral subluxation
d)Horizontal physealline
5)Metaphyseal vessels ceases at :
a)At birth
b)1-2y
c)4-7y
d)10y
6)Perthes disease is a self limiting disease, it ,ay last for:
a)2-3 months
b)1-2y
c)3-4y
d)7-8y
8)Which of the following is false with respect to SCFE:
a)Common in males
b)Seen in obese children
c)Not associated with puberty
d)Incidence : Left > bilateral > right
9)In SCFE, slippage occurs through which zone of physis:
a)Proliferative
b)Reserve
c)Hypertrophic
d)Spongiosa
10)What sign is this:
a)Salters sign
b)Crescent sign
c)Drehmannsign
d)Trethowansign