Perthes disease in children implies such an ailment in which there is a temporary violation of the blood supply to the femur. Already after, in the absence of proper blood flow, the tissues of the femoral head (spongy and cartilaginous) are destroyed. According to experts, Perthes disease in children occurs between the ages of four and approximately 10 years. Remarkably, boys are about five times more likely to be diagnosed with this condition, according to available data.
Perthes disease. Reasons
Unfortunately, the true factors leading to the development of this disease are currently unknown. Some doctors claim that frequent colds and injuries are to blame. There is also information that the cause lies in a congenital dislocation, however, according to available data, such a case is only possible in a million.
Symptoms
Most often, young patients begin to complain of pain in the hip joint itself. Note that discomfort manifests itself with a relatively small frequency. So intervals can range from a few days to a couple of months. Perthes disease in childrenmanifest in the form of pain in other parts of the body, namely in the inguinal and gluteal regions. When moving, it most often intensifies.
Diagnosis
Perthes disease in children can only be determined by a qualified specialist after a series of additional tests. For example, small patients are prescribed radiography of the hip joint itself. Already in the course of systematic treatment, after confirming the diagnosis, several more shots may be required to determine the full picture of the disease.
Perthes disease. Stages
At the moment, doctors conditionally distinguish four stages of this disease:
- 1st stage. In this case, the patient is not yet aware of his disease. Such a change in the structure of the bone at the microscopic level is almost impossible to determine the main diagnostic methods. The so-called subchondral osteonecrosis gradually develops.
- 2nd stage. There is a feeling of discomfort, as well as minor pain in the area of the hip joint. Then there is an impression fracture. The zone of existing structural changes, according to experts, varies from 10 to 30%.
- 3rd stage. The patient begins to complain of pain during movement, which does not go away at rest. This stage of the development of the disease, as a rule, is determined by the unevenness of the outlines of the femoral head. The interarticular space expands or, conversely, narrows.
- 4th stage. The joint is practically devoid of its functionality, constant pain is felt. The head at this stage is completely destroyed, there is a dislocation or even subluxation. In this case, the area of structural changes is determined by the boundaries from 50 to 80%.
Treatment
If the radiograph showed minor signs of the disease, only constant monitoring of the child is prescribed. Otherwise, with obvious symptoms of the disease, some methods of therapy are used.
Non-surgical treatments
To reduce discomfort and pain directly in the hip joint, children are prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, Ibuprofen).
The treatment regimen in this case depends directly on the intensity of tissue repair. In addition, a course of special physical therapy is prescribed, the exercises of which are recommended to be performed until complete recovery. With progressive deformity, a plaster cast is prescribed, which allows you to keep the femoral head inside the so-called acetabulum.
Surgical treatment
The operation allows you to completely restore the necessary location of all bones directly in the hip joint. So, in this case, the head of the bone moves inside the aforementioned acetabulum. This position is fixed by means of special bolts and plates, which are completely removed after a certain period of time. The rehabilitation process here depends on the success of the operation itself.
