Primary results of conservative treatment and osteotomy in coxa plana: a radiological comparison

In comparison with conservatives measures, does varus and derotation osteotomy accelerate recovery and prevent femoral deformation in Perthes Disease? In groups of 25 treated with osteotomy, and 22 treated conservatively, the primary anatomic result after reossification was judged from the radiographs by visual appraisal, and that is without introducing any measurements. The severity of the disease (the maximum epiphyseal involment) was the same in both treatment groups. The anatomic result (the shape of the femoral head after reossification) was in both groups found to be related closely to the age of patient and the severity of the disease. There was no demonstrable improvement in anatomic result in the osteotomized group. This could be explained by a similar effect of the conservative and surgical treatments or that neither was effective.