Legg-Perthes disease in the young hip--does it necessarily do well?

Thirty-one patients (with forty involved hips) in whom Legg-Perthes disease developed when they were less than five years old were reviewed. Previously defined roentgenographic features of prognostic significance were measured. Long-term follow-up (average, 129 months) allowed statistical testing of factors previously thought to be of significance in predicting outcome. Many of these patients were found to have poor results as measured roentgenographically. In addition, many prognostic indications were found not to be independent measures and of those demonstrating independence, none correlated with the functional outcome.