Question

*Legg Calve Perthe's*

*1* AVN of the femoral epiphysis in a child

*2* most commonly found in boys *between age 4-9*

*3* Radiographic signs include *fragmentation of the femoral head called crescent sign*, flattening of the femoral head, increased white density of the femoral head called snow capped appearance, increased joint space. When healed the femoral head has a mushroom capped appearance.

*4* There are no labs. special test is a bone scan or MRI.

*5* Requires referral to an orthopedist for an "A" brace

Answer 1

A radiograph of a child's femur shows the epiphyseal plates, whose appearance and disappearance at certain ages can be used to estimate the child's age.

Step-by-step explanation:

A radiograph of a child's femur can be an invaluable tool in approximating the age of the child. This is because the femur, like other large bones, has several secondary ossification centers associated with epiphyseal plates. The timing of the appearance and disappearance of these plates is consistent and can be used for age estimation. In the femur, secondary ossification centers appear at distinct intervals post-birth: in the femoral head during the first year, in the greater trochanter during the fourth year, and in the lesser trochanter between the ages of 9 and 10 years.

The radiographic presence or absence of these epiphyseal plates, which appear dark on X-rays compared to the white of ossified bone, can be used to gauge the child's developmental progress and thus estimate their age. For example, if the epiphyseal plate at the base of the lesser trochanter is visible, it indicates that the child is approximately 9-10 years old, as it typically fuses around puberty.