Correlating Patient-Reported Outcome Measures with Radiographic Hip Shape in Perthes' Disease

Description

Mohammed Ali, a fifth-year medical student at Liverpool, presents his research on the impact of radiographic hip shape in Perthes' disease on adult outcomes. The discussion begins with an overview of the Stulberg Classification system, which categorizes hip shapes and predicts long-term outcomes, particularly regarding the risk of secondary osteoarthritis. Ali explains that aspherical hips tend to result in poorer functionality, quality of life, and increased pain compared to spherical hips.



Throughout the study, 136 participants were examined after the healing stage of Perthes’ disease, focusing on outcomes based on hip shape and age. Results showed that spherical hips yield better outcomes, while aspherical hips are linked to worse outcomes, particularly for older adults. Detailed analysis revealed significant distinctions between the results for spherical versus aspherical hips, highlighting that older patients typically reported worse outcomes.



Ali concluded that the general hip shape is a fundamental determinant of adult self-reported outcomes, while the individual Stulberg classifications do not show major differences in results except between the two extremes. The presentation also included demographic information and multivariate analyses of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Following his delivery, the session transitions into a discussion with attendees who express enthusiasm and seek clarity on the clinical relevance of the findings. Overall, the research underscores the importance of hip shape in forecasting long-term health implications for those affected by Perthes’ disease.

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