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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your child is diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, he or she may be referred to a pediatric orthopedic specialist for treatment.
Treatment is designed to protect the hip from further stress and injury and keep the ball of the thighbone (femur) in the hip socket. While resting the joint may help, prolonged bed rest isn't recommended. Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment options may include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications. Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) can help relieve pain. They can also reduce joint inflammation when used for months at a time. The dosage may be decreased as your child's hip begins to heal. Although it is an anti-inflammatory medication, aspirin isn't recommended for use in children.
- Physical therapy. Range-of-motion exercises can help maintain joint mobility. These exercises can be done at home or with the help of a physical therapist.
- Crutches. Crutches can ease pain by keeping your child's weight off his or her hip.
- Casts, braces or traction. Temporarily immobilizing the bone can help promote healing. This may be done with leg or hip casts, leg braces or traction (applying a pulling force to the bone).
- Surgery. If a groin muscle has shortened due to excessive limping, it may be surgically released from the bone. After surgery, the affected leg is put in a cast for six to eight weeks to allow the muscle to grow to a more normal length. Sometimes the hip ball must be replaced within the socket. In other cases, the hip socket is repositioned.
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease can't be prevented. But with appropriate treatment, most children can go back to normal activities within 18 months to two years.
- Perthes disease. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00070&return_link=0. Accessed Jan. 22, 1010.
- Legg-Calve'-Perthes disease. National Osteonecrosis Foundation. http://www.nonf.org/perthesbrochure/perthes-brochure.htm. Accessed Jan. 22, 2010.
- Hosalkar HS, et al. The hip. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/179341369-5/942328489/1608/1578.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50679-4--cesec26_12453. Accessed Jan. 22, 1010.
- Mercier LR. Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/179341369-5/942328489/2088/368.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00021-6--sc0040_7585. Accessed Jan. 22, 2010.
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