Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease

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Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (Perthes disease, pseudocoxalgia) (leg kal-vay per-tĕz) n. necrosis of the head of the femur due to interruption of its blood supply (see osteochondritis). It occurs most commonly in boys between the ages of 5 and 10, and causes aching and a limp. [ A. T. Legg (1874–1939), US surgeon; J. Calvé (1875–1954), French orthopaedist; G. C. Perthes (1869–1927), German surgeon]