A quantitative method for evaluating results of treating Legg-Perthes syndrome.

A new quantitative method of analyzing hip joint architecture in Legg-Perthes syndrome is presented. Outlines of the bony femoral head and acetabular configuration as seen on the anteroposterior (AP) view were traced on a digitizer. Computer analysis provided measures of joint congruity, containment, and femoral head shape. The method's ability to distinguish pathologic from normal hips and to trace the course of the bony deformity of the hip joint was demonstrated in a group of 14 patients. Interobserver reliability was established. The method provides an objective quantification of treatment results and a reliable means for comparison of data between groups of patients.