Containment methods for treatment of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

The objective of containment treatment in Perthes disease is to hold the femoral head in the acetabulum during the period of "biologic plasticity" while necrotic bone is resorbed and living bone is restored through the process of "creeping substitution." This article identifies the various methods of containment and the technical aspects of each method. Choice of method depends on the experience of the surgeon and the psychosocial needs of the patient and family. Failure is more commonly a result of inappropriate patient selection for a particular method, delay in management, or technical errors rather than to the method that was selected.