Harel L, Kornreich L, Ashkenazi S, Rachmel A, Karmazyn B, Amir J
Department of Pediatrics, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999 Sep;153(9):942-5. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.153.9.942.
To describe a rare developmental disorder of the femoral capital epiphysis in infants and children that is often misdiagnosed and to suggest an evaluation protocol to differentiate it from other hip problems.
Case series.
Tertiary care center.
Five consecutive patients referred for evaluation of acute onset of limping between January 1990 and December 1997.
All clinical and imaging data were collected.
Two of the 5 patients were initially diagnosed as having osteomyelitis and 3 as having Perthes disease. The diagnosis of Meyer dysplasia was confirmed by plain film of the pelvis, a negative bone scan, or normal bone marrow findings on magnetic resonance imaging. The limping resolved without treatment in all patients within 1 to 3 weeks.
Meyer dysplasia is a benign condition that should be included in the differential diagnosis of hip disease in infants and children. Awareness of this condition may prevent unnecessary hospitalization and treatment.