ARTHROSCOPY IN 19 CHILDREN WITH PERTHES-DISEASE - PATHOLOGICAL-CHANGES OF THE SYNOVIUM AND THE JOINT SURFACE

Arthroscopy of the hip joint was performed in 19 children with Legg-Ca lve-Perthes' disease. Proliferation of the synovium was pronounced bot h in the acetabular fossa and over the inner wall of the capsule. Hype rvascularity was seen on the acetabular labrum in every stage of the d isease. Microscopically, hyperplasia of the synovial lining cells was observed, but inflammatory changes in the synovial tissue were inconsp icuous in the early stage of the disease. Although hypertrophy of the endothelial cells of the vessels was seen in the late stage of the dis ease, it was not distinct in the initial or fragmentation stages. Join t pain improved after irrigation during arthroscopy.