Standards of early diagnosis of Perthes disease

Sixty-tliree patients with suspected early (preroentgenological) stage of Perthes disease were examined, 25 of these developed later a typical picture of osteochondropathy of the neck of the femur with manifest x-ray signs. Application of an improved method of osteoscinligraphy helped correctly diagnose the disease at the early stage in 24 (96%) of these 25 patients, whereas examination with a newly developed method of nonreference roentgenophotodensit- ometry was effective in 18 (72%) patients. A scheme for examination of patients with suspected Perthes disease (examination standard) is offered.