Perthes disease, one of the bone and joint diseases that occurs in childhood and requires lifelong treatment and follow-up, is a disease that is generally seen in children between the ages of 4-10 and manifests itself with problems such as limping and limping while walking. Early diagnosis is of great importance in this disease, which is more common in boys. Early diagnosis of the disease in growing children and initiating the treatment process as soon as possible are the most important factors that help prevent the disease from becoming more serious in the future and ensure healthy growth and development. This disease is an important childhood orthopedic disease that develops due to the destruction of bone tissue at the point where the femur meets the hip, as a result of unknown reasons. This disease, also known as Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in the medical literature, requires constant and detailed medical follow-up from childhood to adulthood and old age.
What are the symptoms of Perthes disease?
The initial symptoms of Perthes disease are quite mild and therefore they are often ignored by children or parents. Sometimes it may not cause any symptoms, but sometimes it may manifest itself as mild knee and hip pain. As the disease progresses, the severity of symptoms increases. Common symptoms of Perthes disease can be listed as follows:
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Pain in the hip and knee area
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Claudication
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Swelling in the legs
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Thinning in leg diameter
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Leg shortness
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Difficulty in joint movements
Although the above symptoms are the most common symptoms of the disease, the symptoms seen vary from case to case. In addition, the symptoms seen during the disease process may worsen and ease from time to time. Since Perthes disease cannot be noticed by patients and parents in some cases due to the lack of obvious symptoms, a pediatric orthopedist examination should be performed for pain that occurs for no reason, especially in childhood.
What are the causes of Perthes disease?
The exact cause of Perthes disease is unknown. Research is continuing to investigate the factors that play a role in the formation of the disease, and some of the reasons that are thought to increase the risk of the formation of this disease are as follows:
Male gender
. Excessive mobility during childhood
. Petite body structure
. Clotting disorder
. Insufficiency of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, which are involved in bone formation
. Hormonal disorders
. Injuries such as sprains and bruises in the hip bone
. Growing up in a smoking environment
. Being born with low birth weight
. Genetic predisposition
What are the treatment methods for Perthes disease?
The details of the treatment method and process in Perthes disease are examined as a result of the detailed examination and diagnostic tests to be performed by the pediatric orthopedic specialist, considering factors such as the age of the patient and the degree of the disease. It is planned individually, taking into account the individual. Early diagnosis of the disease is of great importance in order to increase the success rate and facilitate the treatment process. In cases where the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, if the child's bone age is below 6 years and there is no major problem in joint movements, the patient should be followed up regularly by a pediatric orthopedist and appropriate physiotherapy programs should be implemented.
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