[Notes on the indication of corrective osteotomy in Perthes' disease (author's transl)].

The results of surgical (corrective osteotomy) and conservative therapy (Thomas splint treatment) are compared in 88 patients suffering from Perthes' disease. It is attempted to show whether the age of the patients, the stage of disease, centric or excentric head of femur, Cattherall's stage or any risk factors influence the results. Statistics show that only young children profit from surgical treatment whereas it offers no advantage to children over six years of age. Among the young children only those with excentric head of femur, show significantly better results as opposed to conservative splint treatment. Surgery is otherwise only indicated when it is seen as an alternative to prolonged splint treatment.