[Outcome of decompression operations in the treatment of Legg-Perthes disease]

The authors evaluate the results of 90 decompression operations in 68 patients with Perthes' disease at stages I-IV; the mean age of the children was 8.3 +/- 1.2 years and the follow-up period after the surgery was from 6 months to 10 years. Decompression operations made in the clinic have been protected by author's certificates No. 942712 and No. 1050672. The results were excellent and good in 87.8% and satisfactory in 12.2%. Decompression operations are substantiated from the pathogenetic viewpoint. They interrupt the pathologic process in the epiphysis, contribute to a rapid restoration of the femoral head, are characterized by low traumatism and may be performed simultaneously on both sides which precipitate the children's rehabilitation. The best results have been observed in the children aged 5 to 7 years and at stages I and II of the disease. The surgical treatment has allowed to reduce the terms of the treatment of the children 3 to 4-fold as compared with the conservative method.