Presentation
The child had been complaining of pain in his left hip for a few months.
Patient Data
X-ray examination of both hips is performed.
The head of the left femur appears dysmorphic, flattened in its upper portion. Appreciable lamellar radiolucency gap at the upper cortical profile of the femoral head.
The diagnostic procedure is completed with an MRI scan.
Dysmorphism of the head of the left femur is appreciated, which appears flattened, in association with altered signal intensity, characterized by a clear reduction in the signal of the articular extremity of the femoral head, compatible with the results of osteonecrotic phenomena known in the history.
Multiple irregularities of the cortical profile of the femoral head.
There is a fair amount of intra-articular effusion and thickening of the joint capsule.
Focal millimetric fluid gap at the anteroinferior side of the growth cartilage.
There are no significant intensitometric changes in the right coxo-femoral structures.
Case Discussion
The clinical and diagnostic picture was suggestive of Perthes' disease.
The little patient started the long rehabilitation process in the hope of a positive response to the therapy.