Legg-Calve-Perthes disease

Alternative names:

coxa plana; Legg-Perthes disease; Perthes disease

Definition:

A deterioration of the head of the thighbone (femur) due to insufficient blood supply to the area.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The disorder causes a flattening of the top of the femur (the ball of the head of the femur). Usually just 1 leg is affected. The blood flow to the femur is interrupted, and the tip of the bone dies over a period of 1 to 3 weeks. A new blood supply causes new bone cells to appear in the region over the next 6 to 12 months. New bone then replaces the old bone within 2 to 3 years. It occurs most frequently in boys 4 to 10 years old and tends to occur in families.