Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease

This chapter presents a clinical scenario of a nine-year-old boy who is presented with pain in the left hip and a limp for the duration of one month. Radiographs of the pelvis reveal features of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease in the late stage of avascular necrosis (Stage Ib: Modified Waldenstrom classification) with sclerosis and minimal loss of height of the capital femoral epiphysis. The aim of treatment of children with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease is to prevent the femoral head from getting deformed. Despite the paucity of high-quality studies related to the treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, there is some evidence to suggest that nonsurgical or surgical containment can improve the chances of retaining the spherical shape of the femoral head. The chapter also provides recommendations for implementing evidence-based practice in the clinical setting.