What Is Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease?

Referred to as Perthes disease, it is a self-limiting, self-healing, non-systemic disease that occurs in children's femoral heads. Children from 2 to 12 years of age can suffer from this disease. It is more common in children 4 to 8 years old. The incidence rate is 4: 1 for men and women, and most are unilateral. Perthes disease is a condition of necrosis of the femoral skull that begins in childhood. The main clinical manifestations are lameness, pain and limited movement on the affected hip joint; X-ray signs are cystic degeneration, fragmentation, and collapse of the femoral head, which can eventually lead to flat hip deformities. Its pathogenesis is unknown. However, the increased femoral head and neck pressure and venous return disorders in Perthes disease are the key to its pathogenesis. It was first discovered and described by Legg (United States), Calve (France), and Perthes (Germany) in 1910, so it is called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. For nearly a century, the disease has been given various names, such as femoral skull osteochondritis, hip joint osteochondrosis, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, and flat hip. These names are only observed from a certain angle of the disease, and they do not reflect the true nature of the disease. Therefore, the names of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease or Perthes disease have been used to this day.

Legg-Calve-Perthes disease

Referred to as Perthes disease, it is a self-limiting, self-healing, non-systemic disease that occurs in children's femoral heads. Children from 2 to 12 years of age can suffer from this disease. It is more common in children 4 to 8 years old. The incidence rate is 4: 1 for men and women, and most are unilateral. Perthes disease is a condition of necrosis of the femoral skull that begins in childhood. The main clinical manifestations are lameness, pain and limited movement on the affected hip joint; X-ray signs are cystic degeneration, fragmentation, and collapse of the femoral head, which can eventually lead to flat hip deformities. Its pathogenesis is unknown. However, the increased femoral head and neck pressure and venous return disorders in Perthes disease are the key to its pathogenesis. It was first discovered and described by Legg (United States), Calve (France), and Perthes (Germany) in 1910, so it is called Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. For nearly a century, the disease has been given various names, such as femoral skull osteochondritis, hip joint osteochondrosis, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, ischemic necrosis of the femoral head, and flat hip. These names are only observed from a certain angle of the disease, and they do not reflect the true nature of the disease. Therefore, the names of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease or Perthes disease have been used to this day.