The literature presents comparatively little concerning osteochondritis juvenilis affecting the acetabulum. Only one case has been reported previously in which the acetabulum was involved without changes in the corresponding epiphysis of the femoral head. In three of the cases, the acetabula were involved without changes detectable roentgenographically in the femoral epiphyses. In addition, two cases were reported in which other centers of ossification also were involved.
Osteochondritis juvenilis of the acetabulum may affect the primary centers of ossification or it may involve the secondary centers. The change is most likely to occur at the superior rim or surface of the acetabulum. Treatment is conservative and should be directed toward relief of the strain which results from weight-bearing on the involved region. An analysis of the two cases in which healing took place reveals the fact that there seems to be little, if any, remaining deformity.