Legg-Calve-Perthes disease

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, or LCPD is a disease that is characterised by an interruption of the blood flow to the hip joint. Over time, the lack of blood flow into this ball joint can cause it to weaken, and make it more prone to breaks or fractures.

It’s unclear what causes LCPD in otherwise healthy children, and within around 18 to 36 months, most will have spontaneously healed, and the blood flow to their hip joint will once again be perfectly normal.

Boys are far more likely to get LCPD, with four times as many boys as girls being diagnosed with the disease, and it occurs mostly in children aged four to nine. Children who are short for their age, or whose bones are more immature than others of their age are also more likely to have this disease.

One of the first symptoms of LCPD is that your child will begin to limp. Pain in the hip, thigh and groin area is also common, and you will probably find that your child begins to complain of pain gradually, over a period of time. If your child has been limping for more than a couple of days, it’s a good idea to contact your doctor.

LCPD is diagnosed by means of an X-ray, and if your child is found to have this disease, you will be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon or specialist, who will devise a treatment plan. Depending on the severity of the disease, this may mean observation only, limited physical activity or even a brace or surgery in the most severe cases. It’s worth noting that the younger the child is who is diagnosed with this disease, the less likely he or she is to require surgical or other medical intervention to correct the problem.