Revista de Cirugía

Rapidly Progressive Osteolysis of the Femoral Head Following An Acetabular Fracture - Case Report

Abstract

Ovidiu Alexa, Radu Ioan Malancea, Bogdan Puha, Dragos Popescu, Bogdan Veliceasa

Posttraumatic osteolysis is a rare complication of fractures. We present a case of massive, rapidly progressive osteolysis of the femoral head following a fracture of the acetabulum. A 45 years old male patient suffered a transverse acetabular fracture that involved the posterior wall. Through a Kocher-Langenbeck approach we performed open reduction and internal fixation of the fracture with two reconstruction plates. Postoperative radiologic control showed acceptable fracture reduction. At 45 days after surgery, a routine X-ray control was performed and a massive osteolysis involving about 50% of the femoral head was noticed. Three months after the surgery, quasi-total disappearance of the femoral head with superior dislocation of the remaining blunt was observed. Massive osteolysis of the femoral head is a new entity of post-traumatic osteoarthritis described in a small number of patients which should not be confused with aseptic necrosis or rapidly progressive osteoarthritis.