title: A probable case of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in Warring States-era China.
abstract: Reports of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) in the paleopathological literature are rare. Here, the authors present a probable case of LCPD, which presents as abnormal morphology of the proximal femur. The condition was observed in an individual of the Warring States period in Shaanxi Province, China, and the morphology involves a "mushroom head" deformity of the proximal right femur and an enlarged acetabulum, along with a contralateral tibia, talus, and navicular that are enlarged and demonstrate periosteal new bone formation. The authors consider tuberculosis, septic arthritis, trauma, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in a differential diagnosis. The authors conclude that the most likely diagnosis for the deformity is Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Bony changes in the hip joint and contralateral lower leg suggest that the individual had an altered gait because of the condition.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of Anthropology, 301 Alumni Building, CB#3115, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: eberger@live.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Northwest University School of Cultural Heritage, 229 Taibai North Road, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Provincial Archaeological Research Institute, 31 Leyou Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Zhouyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Provincial Archaeological Research Institute, 31 Leyou Road, Yanta District, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Zhanwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007873:Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010163:Paleontology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: China; Femoral head necrosis; Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease; Paleopathology