Skip to main content

Perthes Disease

Perthes Disease or Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease is a rare childhood disease whereby there is inadequate blood supply into the Femoral Epiphysis (Growth plate of the Femoral Head).  The upper segment of the thigh bone consists of the Femur, Femoral Head and the Growth plate. As blood supply is inadequate, it can lead to avascular necrosis in the bone cells. Some common presenting symptoms are pain in the thigh or knee, limited thigh mobility and leg length discrepancies.



Patients with Perthes Disease should stay away from physical activity or weight bearing exercises. If deemed serious, physical therapy is recommended. If it is allowed to persist, it can lead to ramifications in early adulthood such as onset arthritis. In severe cases, the patient may need to undergo hip replacement.

Most patients with Perthes Disease will spontaneously recover within 1 to 2 years. Patients under the age of 6 showing symptoms should get a prognosis for Perthes Disease. This is because younger patients can easily remodel the Femoral Head before they get older.

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/perthes-disease#:~:text=Perthes%20disease%20is%20a%20rare,a%20process%20called%20avascular%20necrosis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdhf7HAFDrs

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/legg-calve-perthes-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374343


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kidney Stones

Renal calculi, or kidney stones is the formation of crystals in the kidneys causing excretory issues. These stones mainly form in the renal pelvis or the ureter in the kidney. It is accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and a burning sensation when urinating  Urine consists of salts and various compounds such as Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, Oxalate, Phosphate and Uric acid. Calcium oxalate is the most common stone formed in the kidneys, it accounts for 80% of kidney stones The crystals can scratch the walls of the urinary tract, sending nerve impulses to the brain causing excruciating abdominal pain. The scratches also cause blood vessels embedded behind the walls to burst, causing blood to enter the urinary system. This causes the patient to urinate blood. IF the stone is big enough to cause a blockage in the urinary tract, this can create a backflow of urine and infect the kidneys itselves. However, most kidney stones do not grow large enough to cause a blockage. This w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Horner’s Syndrome

Horner’s syndrome is a condition where the sympathetic nerves on the face are damaged. 3 classic signs of Horner’s syndrome include miosis (constriction of the pupil), ptosis (drooping of the upper eyelid) and anhidrosis (absence of sweating of the face). It is a result of other medical problems such as stroke, tumor or spinal cord injury. Hence, treatment for the underlying issue may restore nerve function. The nerve pathway affected in Horner’s syndrome is divided into three groups of neurons called the first, second and third order neurons. These neurons lead from the hypothalamus of the brain through the spinal cord and finally along the facial skin and muscles of the iris and eyelids  Sources: https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6670/ horners-syndrome
Post a Comment
Read more

Organ Transplants

  Organ transplantation is a medical procedure in which an organ is removed from one body and planted in the body of a recipient. It is often the only treatment for end stage organ failure, such as liver and heart failure.  Researchers have historically experimented with organ transplantation on animals and humans since the 18th century. However, the first major breakthrough was made in 1954, when the first successful kidney transplant was performed. Since then, medical breakthroughs such as tissue typing and immunosuppressant drugs have only increased the success rate of this procedure.  In Singapore, the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) covers all aged 21 and above, unless one has opted out. HOTA allows for the kidneys, heart, liver and corneas to be removed for transplantation in the event of death. Sources: https://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/learn/about-transplantation/history/ https://www.moh.gov.sg/policies-and-legislation/human-organ-transplant-act https://www.who.i...
Post a Comment
Read more