Background: Hip distraction in Legg-Calve´-Perthes disease
unloads the joint, which negates the harmful effect of the
stresses on the articular surface, which may promote the sound
healing of the areas of necrosis.
Methods: Nonarticulated arthrodiastasis without soft tissue
release using an Ilizarov external fixator was applied to 29
patients with Legg-Calve´-Perthes disease (older than 8 y at onset
and lateral pillar type C or B).
Results: Follow-up period ranged from 2.5 to 11 years with an
average of 7.5 years. Twenty-seven cases (93%) had improvement
of the range of motion postoperatively. Preoperatively, all
patients had constant pain, whereas at last follow-up 26 (86%)
patients had no pain and 3 had an improvement. Stulberg
classification was applied to 21 cases who reached skeletal
maturity at last follow-up: 9 cases were type II, 7 cases were type
III, 4 cases were type IV, and 1 case was type V.
Conclusions: Nonarticulated hip distraction without soft tissue
release seems to be a valid treatment option in cases with Legg-
Calve´-Perthes disease where poor results are expected from
conventional treatment.