Lateral shelf acetabuloplasty in the early stage of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease with special emphasis on the remaining growth of the acetabulum: a preliminary report.

This study reports on the preliminary results in 43 patients with an early stage of unilateral Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, treated with a shelf acetabuloplasty. The mean postoperative follow-up was 3.7 years (1.3-6.2 years). The results suggest an improved outcome in children older than 5 years of age at onset. According to the Stulberg classification, 16 hips were classified as Stulberg 2, 19 hips as Stulberg 3 and eight hips as Stulberg 4. The acetabular size, which is a measurement of the length of the acetabulum relative to the size of the shelf, increased from 48.86 to 69.13%. This reflects an incorporation of the shelf-graft into the pelvis as a result of continued growth of the lateral acetabular structures. The coverage of the femoral head by the bony acetabulum increased from 68.51 to 73.83%. The acetabular cover increases in children younger than 8 years of age and decreases in patients older than 8 years. We suggest that shelf acetabuloplasty can be considered as an appropriate surgical treatment for children older than 5 years of age, with severe Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.