[May Perthes' disease be due to venous block? Experimental investigations on growing pigs]

In 13 growing pigs (mini-pigs) all veins draining the head of femur were ligated intra-abdominally. In 2 i.v. injection of 12% Varigloban into the common iliac vein was added, in another 2 the same drug was injected into the head of femur. No real changes could be seen in X-rays, macro- and microscopically. Slides showed only more or less pronounced fibrosis. Scintigrams showed a reduction of radio-active storage in the head of femur by about 12%. The results and conclusions for human pathology are discussed.