Objectives: To describe a rare developmental disorder of the femoral capita
l epiphysis in infants and children that is often misdiagnosed and to sugge
st an evaluation protocol to differentiate it from other hip problems.
Design: Cast series.
Setting: Tertiary care center.
Subjects: Five consecutive patients referred for evaluation of acute onset
of limping between January 1990 and December 1997.
Intervention: All clinical and imaging data were collected. Results: Two of
the 5 patients were initially diagnosed as having osteomyelitis and 3 as h
aving Perthes disease. The diagnosis of Meyer dysplasia was confirmed by pl
ain film of the pelvis, a negative bone scan, or normal bone marrow finding
s on magnetic resonance imaging. The limping resolved without treatment in
all patients within 1 to 3 weeks.
Conclusions: Meyer dysplasia is a benign condition that should be included
in the differential diagnosis of hip disease in infants and children. Aware
ness of this condition may prevent unnecessary hospitalization and treatmen
t.