Perthe's Disease
Perthe's disease is avascular necrosis (described in the bones and joints section) of the femoral head due to inflammation - called osteochondritis - followed by revascularisation and patchy new bone formation. It is more common in boys, and comes on insidiously with pain and a limp. The younger the onset, and the less of the femoral head that's involved, the better the outlook. If it occurs in an older child, and the whole of the femoral head is involved, it will predispose to the early onset of arthritis. It may be bilateral. In severe cases there may be deformity of the limb. Why it occurs is unknown.
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