Palliative operations for painful old Perthes' disease.

Thirty-one adults with painful old Perthes' disease were treated by subcutaneous adductor tenotomy and cheilectomy of the femoral head with the aim of increasing abduction and rotation of the hip. In addition, multiple drilling was carried out to decompress the femoral head, and muscle-pedicle bone grafting to improve the circulation and repair the necrotic bone. Follow up was from 38 to 120 months. Pain was relieved in every case and movement improved in most. There were 14 excellent, 12 good, 4 fair and one poor result.