Perthes’ disease
পার্থেস রোগ
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Perthes' disease, also known as Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, is a rare condition in children that affects the hip joint.
The hip is a ball and socket joint, and the ball part is called the femoral head. In Perthes' disease, the blood supply to the femoral head is cut off for a short time. Without it, the bone softens and changes shape. This process is called avascular necrosis.
Given time, the bone can heal and regrow. Even so, the shape and function of the hip may be affected.
Symptoms of Perthes disease
If your child has Perthes' disease, these are the symptoms you may notice:
- pain in the groin, thigh, or knee, especially after activity
- limping
- stiffness and reduced movement of the hip
Call a doctor or go to hospital if:
- your child can't put any weight at all through their leg
- your child has significant pain in their hip and is unwell with a temperature
- there's been new, significant trauma within the last 7 days, for example a fall from height or a direct blow to the hip
See a doctor if:
- often limps after activities
- has hip pain that wakes them at night
- avoids activities because of increasing symptoms
- has a lump in or around the hip that doesn't go away
If your doctor's chamber is closed, phone a doctor or the 16263 health line.
What causes Perthes disease?
Doctors don't know what causes Perthes' disease. It's most often seen in children aged 4 to 9, and boys are affected more often than girls.
Treatment for Perthes disease
If your child has been diagnosed with Perthes' disease, they'll be referred to an orthopaedic service. The doctors there will keep a close eye on your child through regular outpatient appointments.
Most children recover without any treatment other than this close monitoring.
How much treatment is needed depends on how severe the disease is. It can include:
- physiotherapy
- putting less weight through the affected leg
- surgery to reshape the hip joint in more severe cases
What activities can my child do?
Your child may not be able to do as much physical activity in the early stages of Perthes' disease. The orthopaedic team looking after your child will advise you on this.
Some activities are fine for your child and some they should avoid. What they can do may depend on what stage of healing they're in, and the team will guide you on that too.
Your child could try:
- swimming, because it's good for joint mobility and puts no impact on the joints
- cycling, which is a low impact activity and helps to maintain strength and range of motion
- walking short distances, which is often allowed depending on the stage and symptoms of Perthes' disease
Your child may have to avoid:
- running
- jumping
- trampolining
- contact sports
- high impact PE at school
Will my child get back to normal activities?
Your child's orthopaedic team can tell you when your child can get back to their normal activities. It's different for each child.
Perthes' disease takes 2 to 3 years to heal fully. Most children return to normal activities within a few years.
A small number of children may need surgery during childhood if their symptoms persist. Some may develop arthritis later in life or need a hip replacement.
The charity STEPS has more to read on Perthes' disease.