A retrospective study of clinical characteristics and curative results of 16 children with Meyer dysplasia
FU Gang
WANG Yu-kun
ZHANG Jian-li
ZHU Zhen-hua
GUO Yuan
Abstract：Objective To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics and curative results of 16 children with Meyer dysplasia. Methods From 2008 to 2014, 16 children ( 22 hips ) with Meyer dysplasia were treated in our hospital, whose clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There was 1 female and 15 male patients in the study, including 6 patients ( 38% ) with both sides affected. Their mean age was 3.1 years old ( range: 1.5 - 5 years ) at the first hospital visit. They were followed up for a mean period of 2.8 years ( range: 2 - 6 years ). The diagnosis criteria were:( 1 ) Younger than 5 years; ( 2 ) The clinical symptoms were mild pain and limping at the first hospital visit, and the symptoms got resolved after rest; ( 3 ) There was no or only mild limitation in hip motion, and the physical examination showed positive signs; ( 4 ) The X-ray showed smaller or delayed ossification centers in the proximal femoral epiphysis, or a small epiphyseal nucleus composed of multiple independent bony foci, but no subchondral fracture, epiphysis condensation or subluxation of hip; ( 5 ) No abnormal finding in MRI; ( 6 ) The other skeleton dysplasia was excluded;( 7 ) No congenital metabolic abnormality. After the first hospital visit, the treatment of all children was observation only with no weight-bearing for 3 months. During the follow-up after 3 months, if the clinical symptoms got resolved, and the X-ray did not show subchondral fracture, epiphysis fragmentation or condensation, or subluxation, the children were allowed to weight-bearing, and had regular follow-up. Results All children had no symptom and no motion limitation at the latest follow-up. The X-ray showed proximal femoral epiphysis became enlarged and gradual recovery to a normal or nearly normal contour of the femoral head ( class I and II in Stulberg classification ). Conclusions Meyer dysplasia is a rare condition, but could be easily mistaken with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease ( LCPD ), leading to unnecessary diagnostic procedures and treatments. To those with smaller or delayed ossification centers in the proximal femoral epiphysis and younger than 5 years, Meyer dysplasia should be considered. For favorable prognosis, an early and correct diagnosis should be made, so as to avoid unnecessary treatments.
Keywords：Meyer dysplasiaPerthes diseaseChildpre ( 2 - 5 )Retrospective studies
Publication Date：2017-01-01
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：3( 462-464 )