Perthes Disease in kids
Discussion
I had Perthes when I was 3 or 4 (around 1977), and back then the treatment was traction to immobilise the hip joint until it reformed; I spent quite a bit of time in hospital during this period according to my mum. Apparently I got up one morning and couldn't walk, and it was diagnosed soon after. I had regular visits to the consultant until I was 16-18, and lots of x-rays!
Information on Perthes was hard to come by when I was growing up, but the internet has changed that and I now have a better understanding. Apparently the younger you are the better outcome in terms of hip formation, although you may end up with a leg length discrepancy; in my case it ended up at around 25mm, which is significant and I need to wear a built up shoe. When I was in my teenage years I didn't want to do this (vain), but it's important as it has a big impact on your spine alignment/lower back. They are much better at modifying them now, and you would hardly notice. I remember being considered for leg lengthening but back then this was a big operation and my discrepancy was at the lower end.
On a positive note, it hasn't hindered my at all in terms of growing up, and I suspect the treatment options are now much more advanced for your son.
I hadn't really thought about Perthes for years until I attended a retiral dinner; I started to make conversation with the person sitting next to me and it turned out he was a professor and his specialism was hip disease (he had replaced the retiree's hips hence his invite!). He invited me along to his clinic and I given a consultation/x-rays); this was 7 years ago and he said my hip was in good shape. I recently got a dog and have started walking long distances, and have had pains in my hip; I was x-rayed and thankfully there are no signs of arthritis and I think it is down to badly modified shoe, which is overcorrecting.
It's a rare condition, which effects boys more than girls, although I have met a couple of people with it over the years.
I wish your son all the best; I am sure he will make a great recovery now that he has been diagnosed.
Information on Perthes was hard to come by when I was growing up, but the internet has changed that and I now have a better understanding. Apparently the younger you are the better outcome in terms of hip formation, although you may end up with a leg length discrepancy; in my case it ended up at around 25mm, which is significant and I need to wear a built up shoe. When I was in my teenage years I didn't want to do this (vain), but it's important as it has a big impact on your spine alignment/lower back. They are much better at modifying them now, and you would hardly notice. I remember being considered for leg lengthening but back then this was a big operation and my discrepancy was at the lower end.
On a positive note, it hasn't hindered my at all in terms of growing up, and I suspect the treatment options are now much more advanced for your son.
I hadn't really thought about Perthes for years until I attended a retiral dinner; I started to make conversation with the person sitting next to me and it turned out he was a professor and his specialism was hip disease (he had replaced the retiree's hips hence his invite!). He invited me along to his clinic and I given a consultation/x-rays); this was 7 years ago and he said my hip was in good shape. I recently got a dog and have started walking long distances, and have had pains in my hip; I was x-rayed and thankfully there are no signs of arthritis and I think it is down to badly modified shoe, which is overcorrecting.
It's a rare condition, which effects boys more than girls, although I have met a couple of people with it over the years.
I wish your son all the best; I am sure he will make a great recovery now that he has been diagnosed.
Thanks for your first hand insite. Yes they said thats what it used to be like but they don't do that anymore.
Just at the moment hes been told to rest but that doesn't happen.
I'm hoping he can make a normal recovery as they also said it can take a few years to fix itself or he will need an operation. He has another appointment booked so hopefully will get more information from that.
Thanks chris
Just at the moment hes been told to rest but that doesn't happen.
I'm hoping he can make a normal recovery as they also said it can take a few years to fix itself or he will need an operation. He has another appointment booked so hopefully will get more information from that.
Thanks chris
Another 70s Perthes kid here. (I was around 4, so 1976/1977 too). I believe they deal with it much better these days than they did back then. No great insight to add I'm afraid; I just wanted to wish you and your son all the best. Once it was sorted for me I've had no negative effects other than slightly limited flexibility. (That I barely notice anyway). Cheers.
I feel your pain. I really do. We have been through this for four years now.
My daughter who is four was born with dislocated hips. It was put down to being breach for most of the pregnancy.
Then the hips never really formed. So we had constant scans.
She was in no pain so was just reviewed every six months.
One morning when she was 3 she woke up unable to walk. Scariest moment of my life. Straight to A&E. they scanned her and pointed out hip issues. We explained what was going on but they wouldn’t talk to each other. Frustrating!!
Finally got in touch with the specialist hip doctor who said the unable to walk (which went after 1 week) was something called irritable hip which is unrelated. It returned twice within a month. Each time normality returned quicker.
Because I’m short (5’5”) they panicked over her height and thought it was something completely different. DNA tests put that to bed. And it was decided she has perthes but in both hips. Very rare. And she’s a girl. Even rarer!!
What they cannot fathom out is how she can run jump skip bend etc like a normal child. If it wasn’t for the scan, you’d never know. But it still hangs over us as to what could happen.
We have regular scans every six months. Improvement is painfully slow.
She’s tiny, she is 4 and 5 months and has just hit 95cm. She is about a full head shorter than people at her school.
It’s a constant worry. And I feel your pain. Early days they talked about restricting her movements. But only if she started to show pain. I hope that day never comes. I broke down at the hospital. So all I can do is sympathise with you.
It’s a condition that can be fixed with time though. So that is the positive you can hold onto.
I pray every 6 months that the scan shows more bone growth. It’s a dark time the build up to the hospital, and I hate what it will be doing to her. All these visits.
I wish you the best of the look. Our doctor is superb. I hope he goes in the right in direction.
My daughter who is four was born with dislocated hips. It was put down to being breach for most of the pregnancy.
Then the hips never really formed. So we had constant scans.
She was in no pain so was just reviewed every six months.
One morning when she was 3 she woke up unable to walk. Scariest moment of my life. Straight to A&E. they scanned her and pointed out hip issues. We explained what was going on but they wouldn’t talk to each other. Frustrating!!
Finally got in touch with the specialist hip doctor who said the unable to walk (which went after 1 week) was something called irritable hip which is unrelated. It returned twice within a month. Each time normality returned quicker.
Because I’m short (5’5”) they panicked over her height and thought it was something completely different. DNA tests put that to bed. And it was decided she has perthes but in both hips. Very rare. And she’s a girl. Even rarer!!
What they cannot fathom out is how she can run jump skip bend etc like a normal child. If it wasn’t for the scan, you’d never know. But it still hangs over us as to what could happen.
We have regular scans every six months. Improvement is painfully slow.
She’s tiny, she is 4 and 5 months and has just hit 95cm. She is about a full head shorter than people at her school.
It’s a constant worry. And I feel your pain. Early days they talked about restricting her movements. But only if she started to show pain. I hope that day never comes. I broke down at the hospital. So all I can do is sympathise with you.
It’s a condition that can be fixed with time though. So that is the positive you can hold onto.
I pray every 6 months that the scan shows more bone growth. It’s a dark time the build up to the hospital, and I hate what it will be doing to her. All these visits.
I wish you the best of the look. Our doctor is superb. I hope he goes in the right in direction.
Thankyou both for your kind words and insight. Hes rested now since, I even bought a Nintendo switch to keep him sat down. Slight improvement that he can actually walk now but literally just now again complaining of pain. We're booked to go see the consultant on the 8th so I'm hoping get some more sense.
It is very hard to see though I just want to see him chasing after me on the garden and running about.. hoping it will fix itself soon but as you all say its a slow process.
It is very hard to see though I just want to see him chasing after me on the garden and running about.. hoping it will fix itself soon but as you all say its a slow process.
Just re read mine. Seems the ramblings of a mad man.
Have you had a perthes diagnosis? Or is it suggested it could be it? - scrap that read what you said again!! Teach me to read properly!! Sorry.
My daughter was also in a hip brace for a few months when she was about 6 months old. That absolutely broke my wife. Not being able to dress her up nicely and seeing her daughter like that.
I only say as sudden pain while walking or unable to walk can be irritable hip as my daughter had. It’s a virus that for no known reason attacks the hips. But they fee the pain in their leg. It’s usually followed a few days later by vomiting etc.
Either way, it will fix itself. But as a parent it’s f
king horrific. I found it difficult to concentrate on anything. And when we get round to another scan time I go to a darker place!! I really really feel your pain.
Wish you the best of luck with it all.
Have you had a perthes diagnosis? Or is it suggested it could be it? - scrap that read what you said again!! Teach me to read properly!! Sorry.
My daughter was also in a hip brace for a few months when she was about 6 months old. That absolutely broke my wife. Not being able to dress her up nicely and seeing her daughter like that.
I only say as sudden pain while walking or unable to walk can be irritable hip as my daughter had. It’s a virus that for no known reason attacks the hips. But they fee the pain in their leg. It’s usually followed a few days later by vomiting etc.
Either way, it will fix itself. But as a parent it’s f
king horrific. I found it difficult to concentrate on anything. And when we get round to another scan time I go to a darker place!! I really really feel your pain. Wish you the best of luck with it all.
Edited by joestifff on Monday 28th December 18:47
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