Abstract
This study investigated the rapid progression of osteoarthritis of the hip in elderly females, taking into account their symptoms, the clinical signs and the radiological, MRI and histological findings.
Early radiographs are often non-contributory, which can lead to inappropriate further investigations and treatment, such as lumbar spine imaging and surgery. MRI and histological findings lead me to believe that patients’ dramatic deterioration may be due to segmental avascular necrosis of the femoral head, with osteo-cartilaginous detachment.
When a patient with hip symptoms and signs has normal radiographs, one should be aware of this condition.
The abstracts were edited by Prof. M.B.E. Sweet. Correspondence should be addressed to him at the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Medical School, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193 South Africa
