The Scintigraphic Evaluation of Hip Pain in Children

Thirty-eight patients (28 boys and 10 girls) with hip pain were referred for bone scans. In 7 of 8 with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, there was decreased uptake of the radiopharmaceutical in the proximal femoral epiphysis; the other had radiographic evidence of joint destruction and showed increased uptake. Three patients with abnormal scans had normal x-rays with Gaucherʼs disease, toxic synovitis, and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, respectively. One patient with avascular necrosis associated with steroid therapy had increased uptake, possibly due to revascularization. Those with toxic synovitis had either normal bone scans or showed a slight generalized increase around the hip joint. It is speculated that the latter may represent those who later present with Legg-Calvé-Perthes. The bone scan is useful for the early detection of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease in patients with hip pain.