[Results of treatment of Perthes' disease by intertrochanteric adduction osteotomy with and without postoperative splint relief (author's transl)].

Opinions differ on the desirability of postoperative relief following intertrochanteric adduction osteotomy in Legg-Calvé-Perthes' disease. We therefore undertook an analysis of our patients who were given postoperative relief with a Thomas splint up to 1974. Subsequently, patients were allowed to load the joint normally after the osteotomy had knitted. Comparison of the results in the two groups of patients indeed makes it questionable whether postoperative relief with Thomas splints is desirable. If adduction is performed in Stage I of Perthes' disease, relief appears neither beneficial nor detrimental. However, in Stage II there appears to be a detrimental tendency.