Transient synovitis and Perthes' disease. Is there an aetiological connection?
A prospective study was made of 119 children with transient synovitis or any other cause for synovial effusion and elevated intra-articular pressure. During a follow-up of one year not one case of Perthes' disease was diagnosed and the late clinical and radiographic changes were minimal with moderate overgrowth of the femoral head in 33% and widening of the joint space in 14.2%. Our results do not support the widely accepted concept that Perthes' disease develops as a result of the period of elevated intra-articular pressure found in transient synovitis. Further research into this and Perthes' disease should follow the premise that they are two different diseases without any aetiological connection.
D000208:Acute Disease; D002648:Child; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007873:Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013585:Synovitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis