Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease of the Hip

Legg-Calvé-Perthes' disease is a condition of unknown aetiology affecting the developing hip. Various theories as to the underlying cause have been explored, but much remains unexplained. The clinical course of the condition is highly variable. For most young patients age six or under, the disease has been shown to be relatively benign, with few long term implications. Conversely, in older children with more aggressive disease, the future prognosis can be very bleak, with premature degenerative joint disease an all too common outcome. The orthopaedic surgeon may have an opportunity to mitigate the long term effects with non-operative and surgical interventions, but selecting those patients who benefit most remains a challenge. Classification systems help subdivide patient groups and identify those who may benefit most from surgical intervention, but there remains much uncertainty about the best approach for this complex condition.