Protocol for a randomised control trial of bisphosphonate (zoledronic acid) treatment in childhood femoral head avascular necrosis due to Perthes disease.

Introduction: Perthes disease (PD) is an idiopathic disorder presenting with avascular necrosis to the femoral head, which frequently results in flattening. Long-term function is directly related to the subsequent femoral head sphericity. Current treatment includes mechanical modalities and surgical procedures, which are therapeutic but are not uniformly able to prevent collapse.

Experience with the Fassier-Duval telescopic rod: first 24 consecutive cases with a minimum of 1-year follow-up.

Background: The new Fassier-Duval Telescopic IM System (FD-rod) has the advantage of a single entry point over the traditional telescopic rods such as the Bailey-Dubow or Sheffield rods. Although encouraging early results were presented by the originators of the technique at international meetings, there is no formal publication in the literature as yet.

Methods: We performed a chart and x-ray review of the first 24 consecutive FD-rod insertions in 15 patients (age, 1.