Understanding Perthes Disease

Perthes disease is a condition which affects the hip in growing children. It can affect one or both hips, but one hip is more common. The initial signs of the disease can be difficult to detect because children have trouble describing symptoms.

In the early phase of Perthes' disease, the child will have an occasional limp which may become worse as the disease progresses. 

  • Perthes' disease is an uncommon condition that affects children between the ages of three and 11 years.  
  • Blood supply to the head of the thigh bone is disrupted which causes the bone to deteriorate 
  • Boys are more likely to develop this than girls 
  • Perthes Disease can lead to osteoarthritis in adults.
  • an occasional limp in the earlier stages 
  • stiffness and reduced range of movement in the hip joint  
  • pain in the knee, thigh or groin when putting weight on the affected leg or moving the hip joint 
  • thinner thigh muscles on the affected leg 
  • shortening of the affected leg, leading to uneven leg length 
  • worsening pain and limping as time goes by.

References:
Perthes Disease Conditions and Treatments
Perthes Disease Factsheets (PDF)

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