Non-Surgical Treatment of Perthes Disease in Children

Perthes disease, also called Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease, is when the head of the thigh bone dies, collapses, and heals over several years. Treating Perthes during this time is critical to having the best outlook for your child’s hip. Watch this animation to learn more about a tenotomy, or the cutting of a key tendon, to help restore motion and containment to the hip.
Perthes disease affects the head of the thigh bone, which is a ball that fits into a socket in the hip bone. As children grow, the ball and socket put pressure on each other to form a close-fitting, spherical joint. Since Perthes causes the ball to die, keeping the ball contained within the socket is critical to help the joint heal into a more spherical shape. This is called the “principle of containment,” which aims to keep the ball contained within the socket, and keep it in motion. At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we offer several non-surgical treatment options that all follow the principle of containment, including observation, Petrie bracing and casting, and physical therapy. Together, these options allow us to tailor a plan unique to your child’s Perthes.

To learn more, visit our website here:
https://www.childrenscolorado.org/conditions-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/conditions/legg-calve-perthes/

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