Logo of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (Br)
Quick search:        
          Advanced Search
Guest Access | Sign In
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow My Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Parke, W.
Right arrow Articles by Almond, A. H. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Parke, W.
Right arrow Articles by Almond, A. H. G.

PREMATURE EPIPHYSIAL FUSION AT THE KNEE JOINT IN TUBERCULOUS DISEASE OF THE HIP

W. Parke 1; G. S. Colvin 1; ; and A. H. G. Almond 1

1 Liverpool, England

1. In tuberculous disease of the hip, premature epiphysial fusion at the knee joint is due to rupture of the epiphysial cartilaginous plates consequent upon resorption of cancellous support and suppression of osteogenesis.

2. In the tibia, premature fusion is usually preceded by near-central "bulging" of the metaphysial and tibial marrow through the epiphysial plate. In the femur, epiphysial changes preceding fusion are of a fragmentary type.

3. Injury, in quiescent disease, plays little or no part in the causation of premature epiphysial fusion.

4. The factors which are responsible for these changes—local toxaemia and prolonged immobilisation—must exist for not less than two years.

5. In cases which are treated conservatively for long periods the incidence of premature fusion, with serious shortening of the limb, is so high that the wisdom of such treatment must be reconsidered.
(c) British Editorial Society of Bone and Joint Surgery All Rights Reserved
Registered charity no: 209299     Print ISSN: 0301-620X
Hip, Knee, Trauma, Upper limb, Foot & Ankle, Paediatrics, Oncology, Spine, Arthroplasty, General