How To Treat Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Surgical Intervention

When a case of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is severe, orthopedic specialists often recommend surgical intervention. This is done most often in children older than eight years when they are diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. The prevention of damage to the femoral head is extremely important because during the reossification stage, older children have more of a chance of developing a deformity. Surgery is also the recommendation for children who have damage to more than half of the femoral head. In addition, surgery will be recommended for children who have had little success with other methods of treatment. An osteotomy is the most prevalent type of surgery used to treat Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. This procedure involves the cutting of the femur head component and positioning it so it is tightly snug inside of the hip socket portion of the pelvic bone. A medical contraption of screws and plates is utilized to hold the femoral head in this new position so it can heal. The child’s leg is then placed into a cast when the osteotomy is completed and it is left to heal for between six and eight weeks.

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