Outcomes of new pogo-stick brace for Legg–Calvé–Perthes' disease

In 1992, the authors developed a non-weightbearing unilateral ambulatory hip abduction brace, which was named the new pogo-stick brace for unilateral Legg-Calve -Perthes' disease. The hip abduction angle of the new pogo-stick brace was adjustable 45 degrees . The advantage of this brace was that even in the sitting position, the hip abduction angle was maintained. Twenty patients were treated with unilateral LCPD using the new pogo-stick brace. In the Catterall classification, one patient was classified as group 2, 17 as group 3, two as group 4. In Herring classification, one patient was classified as group A, 17 as group B, two as group C. Ultrasonography was performed to determine containment of the hip joints, and the abduction angle of the new pogo-stick brace was adjusted to get better containment, every 2 months. Mose's and acetabular head index methods were used for radiographic evaluation, and classified into good, fair and poor groups both at the primary healing and at the final follow-up. Total evaluation was defined as worse group between Mose's method and acetabular head index method. The average time from onset of disease to the primary healing was 25 months. The average bracing period was 21 months. The average follow-up period was 94 months. At the final follow-up appointment, patients who were classified into good and fair groups were 85% in Mose's method, 95% in acetabular head index method, 85% in total evaluation. In Stulberg classification, the total number of patients who were classified into classes I and II was 85%. The outcome of the new pogo-stick brace was not worse than that of any other treatment method, and was better than that of other unilateral ambulatory braces.