%0 Journal Article
%T Treatment of Late-Onset Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease by Arthrodiastasis.
%A Kim SS
%A Lee CW
%A Kim HJ
%A Kim HH
%A Wang L
%J Clin Orthop Surg
%V 8
%N 4
%D Dec 2016
%M 27904729
%F 2.503
%R 10.4055/cios.2016.8.4.452
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>To evaluate the efficacy of arthrodiastasis for Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Arthrodiastasis was conducted using external fixator devices (Orthofix) in 7 patients at least 8 years of age with a diagnosis of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. The average follow-up was 80 months (range, 32 to 149 months), and their average age was 9.1 years (range, 8 to 12 years). The results of treatment were evaluated by measuring the degree of hip pain and the range of motion of the hip at 6 months after the operation and comparing the values with preoperative measurements. Radiological recovery was evaluated by the epiphyseal index and compared with the preoperative values. At the final follow-up, clinical and radiological results were evaluated using the Iowa hip score and the Stulberg classification.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>On the clinical evaluation performed at 6 months after arthrodiastasis, the degree of pain decreased by 1.8 points on average, and the average flexion, internal rotation, and abduction increased by 35°, 16°, and 11°, respectively. Based on radiological findings, the epiphyseal index showed a remarkable increase of 6.6 on average (from 19 preoperatively to 26 postoperatively). At the final follow-up, the average Iowa hip score improved from 65 points preoperatively to 84 points. There were 1 Stulberg class I hip, 2 Stulberg class II hips, 3 Stulberg class III hips, 1 Stulberg class IV hip, and no Stulberg class V hip.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>We conclude that arthrodiastasis using an external fixator can be a relatively promising surgical procedure for the treatment of late-onset Legg-Calve-Perthes disease.