ABSTRACT
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: In 1913, anthropologist Ales Hrdlicka described a number of femora as having "mushroom heads," a deformity he attributed to arthritis deformans. The authors have attempted to define the cause of this condition. METHODS: Forty of 41 femora with "mushroom" femoral heads collected by Hrdlicka were grossly inspected and examined with plain radiographs and with computed tomography. Femoral neck angulation and degree of anteversion were determined. RESULTS: Three distinct categories were established: group I, those specimens with normal angulation and short femoral necks; group II, those with varus angulation and short femoral necks; and group III, those with normal-sized femoral necks and normal femoral neck angulation. No correlation was found between degree of anteversion and the categories. Additionally, most of the mushroom deformities were related to osteophyte formation. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the changes in the femora were the result of osteoarthritis. Two groups showed evidence of growth disturbances that occurred early in life. The changes in the second group were similar to those seen in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.
Subject(s)
Femur Head/diagnostic imaging , Paleopathology , Epiphyses, Slipped/diagnostic imaging , Epiphyses, Slipped/history , Femur Head/pathology , Femur Head Necrosis/diagnostic imaging , Femur Head Necrosis/history , History, Ancient , Humans , Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease/diagnostic imaging , Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease/history , Osteoarthritis/diagnostic imaging , Osteoarthritis/history , RadiographyABSTRACT
This article describes the use of the eponym "Gage's sign," one of the "at-risk" signs in Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, described by Catterall in 1971. Catterall's description of this radiographic finding differs from the radiographic finding described by Gage in 1933. Thus, what we have come to call Gage's sign would be more appropriately called "Catterall's sign."
Subject(s)
Femur Head Necrosis/history , Femur/diagnostic imaging , Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease/history , History, 20th Century , Humans , RadiographyABSTRACT
The discovery and use of roentgenograms by Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895 was one of the most important turning points in the history of orthopedics. Within only a few years, immense advances were made in the recognition and definition of bone and joint disorders that, until then, had been thought to be different or unusual forms of musculoskeletal tuberculosis. Perthes' disease has become one of the Lieblingsthema of orthopedics. The study of the history of Perthes' disease is fascinating: the sources of many "original" thoughts can be traced back across the world, through the years. This review begins with the 19th century, traces the emergence of the definition of Perthes' disease and some related conditions, and follows the story of the disease in the first decade of its history as a separate entity.
