Long term results of surgery in Perthes disease: Comparison of X-ray and MR-studies

Twenty patients treated by surgery for Perthes' disease were studied between 4 and 9 years postoperatively. In the clinical investigation eight patients complained of persistent stress-induced pain. In nine patients flexion, extension, ab- and adduction of the hip joint was limited. In the MRI-Study of ten hip joints a reduction of fatty marrow was seen in the femoral head. In 11 hip joints of patients complaining of persistent pain, a deformation of the femoral head (n = 2), a dysplasia of the femoral metaphysis (n = 2), and diaphysis (n = 4) or both (n = 2) were seen. In another five patients an additional dysplasia of the acetabulum was visualized. All these findings were diagnosed by X-ray studies as well. However, only by MRI were the extents of the postoperative defects of femoral spongiosa diagnosed in fifteen hip joints. (orig.)