Perthes is actually called Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome. It was named for the three doctors who discovered this disease. It is a degenerative disease of the hip joint, where growth/loss of bone mass leads to some degree of collapse of the hip joint and to deformity of the ball of the femur and the surface of the hip socket. Basically, the blood supply is cut off to the hip, so the top of the femur bone dies and the body absorbs it.
The cause of this disease is not known at this time. It is a very rare disease, so there is a lot still unknown as to the best treatments as well. One of the leading research facilities on Perthes is right here in Dallas!
The goal is to have the bone completely rebuild itself so that surgery or permanent damage does not take place. The disease usually runs its course within 2-3 years.
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