The goal of treatment is to keep the ball of the thighbone inside the socket. Your health care provider may call this "containment." Containment is achieved by maintaining a good range of motion of the hip. In some cases, bracing is used to assist with containment.

Physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medicine (such as ibuprofen) can relieve stiffness in the hip joint. When the hip is painful, or the limp gets worse, restricting activities such as running may help reduce the inflammation. Night-time traction may also help.

Health care providers no longer recommend several months of bedrest.

When these steps fail, surgery may be needed. Surgery ranges from simple lengthening of a groin muscle to major hip surgery to reshape the pelvis. The type of surgery depends on the severity of the problem and the shape of the ball of the hip joint.

The outlook depends on the child's age and the severity of the disease. In general, the younger the child is when the disease starts, the better the outcome.

Children younger than 6 years old who receive treatment are more likely to end up with a normal hip joint. Children older than age 6 are more likely to end up with a deformed hip joint, despite treatment, and may later develop arthritis.

Osteoarthritis may develop later in life. Early recognition and proper treatment of Legg-Calve-Perthes disease may minimize this complication.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if a child develops any symptoms of this disorder.