The treatment for Perthes Disease involves monitoring the disease progression and treating the bone deformities until the bone regenerates. This process can be up to 2 years.
X-rays will be taken regularly to monitor the disease progression until the bone has regrown.
In young children, where degeneration of the femoral head is mild, non-surgical conservative treatment will be recommended until the bone regrows. These measures include:
- Observation
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Physiotherapy
- Avoiding sports and activities that involve jumping and running
- Casting and bracing.
Your surgeon may recommend surgical treatment to realign the bones within the hip joint and to help the femoral head fit snuggly within the socket (acetabulum). This is usually recommended for older children or in those children where non-surgical treatment options have not been successful. Physiotherapy is required following surgery to strengthen the joint and the surrounding muscles.
Treatment is aimed at maintaining the round shape of the femoral head as arthritis can develop in adulthood in hips where there has been loss of the normal shape of the hip.
