Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the long term effect of Distal transfer of the greater trochanter in Perthes’ disease.
Patients and methods: Twelve patients (thirteen hip joints, 10 males and 2 females) who suffered from Perthes’ Disease were treated by distal transfer of the greater trochanter (DTT). The operation was performed because of progressive shortening of the articulo-trochanteric distance accompanied by signs of insufficiency of the hip abductors. Total or near total femoral head involvement was found in all the patients except for one of them. Follow up period was 28 years (21–35). Mean age at diagnosis of Perthes’ was 7 years (4–11). Patient were studied in 1992 and reviewed again 13 years later, using the Harris hip score, short form 36 (SF36), physical examination and A-P X-rays.
Results: Not one of the patients underwent a total hip arthroplasty. Mean Harris hip score is 80 (range 54–100, 4 patients under 70 score). Mean SF36 score was 71 (range 30–94) and was correlated to the Harris score. Three of the patients were working in a physically demanding profession. The rest were office workers. Two of them chose non strenuous type of work due to the hip condition. Limb length discrepancy was 1.7 cm short on the operated side (range 0–3) and correlated with Trendelenburg sign (4 patients with positive sign). Femoral head sphericity according to Stulberg classification was good in 5 patients (grades 1–2), fair in 3 patients (grade 3) and poor in 4 patients (grade 4–5). Head sphericity was not correlated to age at diagnosis, Harris score, SF36 score or level of hip pain.
Conclusions: Long term outcome are surprisingly good in those patients, considering the degree of head involvement, advanced age at diagnosis and severity of disease which necessitated high degree of varus osteotomy and hence trochanter transfer.
The abstracts were prepared by Orah Naor, IOA Co-ordinator and Secretary. Correspondence should be addressed to Israel Orthopaedic Association, PO Box 7845, Haifa 31074, Israel.
