Does perthes syndrome have any connection with grandfather serving on christmas island 1956-57?

Question

he served in the RAF 1956-57 christmas island tests.

Answer 1

May be, but the link will be very hard to demonstrate and also, may equally be not, and be linked to genetics, blood deficiencies, even smoke.

Perthes disease is a degenerative syndrome of a part of the femoral head hitting children between 5 and 10, and, if not treated , at risk to become something more serious (Coxa major, or other boon degenerative diseases)

Current etiology wants this disease partially linked to genetic inheritance (on the male line) and partially linked to  some deficiency in antithrombin blood factors for various reasons (including smoke). No single cause is universally accepted

Radiations doesn't seem to be considered as a main cause, because this children illness (the name defines the paediatric syndrome, in 5-10 years old) is most diffused in UK and Ireland, even in area that never saw nuclear bombs , plants or tests, while is not diffused in Japan or in Pacific Islands.

Basically, to tell you the truth , it is mainly considered as idiopathic: It is called with many names (Perthes disease, Perthes Syndrome, Ischemic Necrosis of the hip, Coxa Plana,  Legg–Perthes Disease, Avascular Necrosis of the femoral head , Paediatric Osteochondritis ,  Legg–Calve-Perthes Disease or LCPD ) but nobody knows the cause for sure.

  

Answer 2

Does your grandfather have this syndrome?

He should contact the RAF veterans administration to see if there are any others with the same problem who were also at Christmas Island.

And since this is genealogy, not the health section, maybe you should post this question over int the health section, too.

Answer 3

Hi

There is no known causative factor for perthes disease.  There are lots and lots of theories, including links to second-hand smoke, poor diet, traumatic injury etc, but nothing definitive.

If you go to the website listed below there is a lot of information about what perthes is; the latest therapies and treatments; some historical information (that I am currently working on increasing); also links to support groups etc, that you may find of interest.

Donna