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Bruce McLaren (1937-1970) - Racing car driver diagnosed with perthes at approximately 9 years of age

Bruce McLaren Movie - to be made very soon about Bruce's life

Perthes Report

extract from Bruce’s letters

 

Dated: Surbiton 5 July 1961 – Bruce aged 23, nearly 24

 

“Now for the big news.  I’d been talking about going to see a doc about my leg and what effects it would have on my back etc later on, for quite a while.  Graham Hill and Brabham both go to a bloke in Harley Street about their backs, as you know Jack has occasional trouble and Graham is really laid low sometimes with back ache caused by his one shortened and bowed leg.  Jack forced the issue by phoning one night and saying I had an appointment next day right after him, so along I went.

 

First thing Doctor Turner said was that I would certainly have trouble with my back in 10 years or more if I didn’t do something, then he said do I ever get headaches, I said yes, he said behind the left eye, and as I had the first one I’d had for about six months just then, right there, I said, you’re bloody right!  I rather felt he knew what he was talking about then.  They are due to the curve of the spine due to the pelvis not being square when I stand. 

 

For his part he said he could give me exercises for the leg which would make it just as strong as the right one and I must, just must wear a built up heel, however he thought it would be advantageous to have an X-ray done just to check on it and then see a colleague of his down the road who was more of an expert on repair work as it were. 

 

So an X-ray was taken, I had a look at them and was a little shaken, looked like this with the right hand a beaut ball and socket and the left a bit of a tatty old thing, quite a normal Perthes disease recovery according to Dr Turner but it shook me a bit. (drawing inserted here )  So I went down the road to Mr Sheales, Leading Orthopedic surgeon.  He first gave me a thorough examination, checked the movements of the leg and had a look at the x-rays and we started talking.  Firstly he thought it may have been a slipped hypithythis??  and not a Perthes at all, but to be fair he said the two often come together.  All the details would take pages so I’ll only stick to the important bits.

 

Firstly he said I would certainly get bad arthritis late on (as did McDonald remember?) and would have to have something done about it.  Apparently the rough old nob on the end of the left bone will wear through the cartilage and establish bone to bone contact which is arthritis!  The fact that the end is a funny shape is what restricts the movement.  He was surprised that the muscles were in as good a shape as they are without special exercise.  I asked him what his recommendation was.  He said they could do all sorts of things now that were not possible 5 years ago, let alone 9.   I mentioned that McDonald had said he could lengthen the leg and he then went on from there saying:

(a)    he could lengthen the thigh bone but it was a three month job and painful

(b)   he could shorten the right leg but wouldn’t because it wasn’t his policy to do meddlesome surgery as he put it and I was already short enough.

(c)    None of these jobs would cure my hip joint problem, anyway what he would like to do is put in a steel end like so (drawing inserted of steel ball ended thing in the thigh bone. 

This is the idea but probably no where in scale, the holes shown are filled with bone chips from the dud end which is cut so the bone grows thru and around the steel bit.  I have heard about this operation so although a bit horrified at the idea, I wasn’t speechless.  The details are, three weeks in hospital then 4 or 5 weeks out patient treatment and cost 150 pounds surgery plus extras which would put it up to £270 odd.  He said this would be the only thing to do when the arthritis got really bad.  He reckons then there would be complete movement equal to the right leg and the only restrictions he would place are ski jumping or parachute jumping, otherwise it would be 100%

 

Now I think I mentioned that Dr Frank (Falkner) was over, I hadn’t talked to him before about my hip, heaven knows why, so we got talking and I find of course he probably knows as much about Perthes and slipped hyperthysiss ?? as anyone, illnesses connected with child growth on which I think I’ve told you he is one of the worlds leading child doctors. 

 

He said he had heard that I was going to the Doctor and although he hadn’t had time to say anything had hoped that this suggestion would come up, he said these jobs now are really fantastic and this one even if not 100% would be 100% better than it is at present.  I asked him about the dangers of putting bits of steel in and all that, he said nowadays they work under an umbrella of antibiotics – in other words pump you full of everything drug wise a week before so no bacteria has a chance and use a procedure called ‘no touch’ and in general was enthusiastic about the idea.  He said to just let him check that Sheales is the best man first.  Incidently, Sheales said there was no ruch, 5 or 10 years but Frank, Doc Turner, Pat and I think early next year so I get the advantage of a perfect leg again in my late twenties.

 

I know you are going to say “ooh dear” but what do you think, talk it over with McDonald if you like.”

 

B McL