Behavioral sequelae of bracing versus surgery for Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

The Louisville Behavioral Checklist was administered to 23 white boys between the ages of 7 and 12 years who completed treatment for Perthes disease by bracing or surgery at the Florida Elks Children's Hospital. The groups were comparable, with 11 children in the surgery group and 12 in the bracing group. Results indicated statistically significant differences (p = 0.05) between the groups in three areas. Patients in the bracing group were more likely to demonstrate deficits in social, academic, and sexual behavior as compared with patients in the surgery group.