Operations about Hip in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Patients

BACKGROUND: The number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients is increasing constantly, and it is well known that there is a significantly high prevalence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in HIV-infected patients. Therefore, it is important to develop methods that can ensure the safety of both the patients and medical personnel who participate in surgery on HIV-infected patients. Recently, the authors performed 8 procedures on 5 HIV-infected patients. This paper reports our experience. METHODS: This study examined the medical records and radiological studies of 5 HIV-infected patients who had undergone surgery around the hip joint from January, 2005 to September, 2007. During the procedures, their mean age was 38.6 years (range, 23 to 53 years) and all were male. Four of them were under an anti-retroviral therapy program. The reasons for the operations were nonunion of the femoral shaft after trauma in two patients and osteonecrosis of both femoral heads in three. One autologous bone grafting, one screw fixation with autologous bone grafting, five total hip replacement arthroplasties, and one multiple drilling were performed. All procedures were carried out according to the guidelines of HIV infection control made by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mean follow-up period was 16.6 months (range, 4 to 37 months). RESULTS: The preoperative CD4 count was 130 in one patient, and 200 to 499 in the other 4. The viral loads were 15100 and 420 in two patients, and negative in the other 3. Bony union was achieved in those who had undergone autologous bone grafting. There were significant improvements in both the Harris Hip Score and functional state in those who had total hip replacement arthroplasty. There were no immediate postoperative complications, such as infection. During the follow-up period, one patient died from esophageal variceal bleeding. However, no surgery-related complications were observed in the other 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant complications in HIV-infected patients after the operations around the hip joint when their preoperative immunity was optimal. In addition, the safety of medical personnel can be assured when the operation is performed in line with the guidelines of HIV infection control.

Hyperlipidaemia a risk factor for femoral head osteonecrosis (Legg-Calv -Perthes-like disease) in children with AIDS: case report

Although treatment of children infected with HIV with protease inhibitors has improved the survival of these patients, various adverse side effects have been reported, including metabolic abnormalities, such as hyperlipidaemia. We describe a case of hip osteonecrosis in an adolescent with AIDS who was being treated with protease inhibitors. There is a possible relation with hyperlipidemia. F.M.G., white, 11 years old, AIDS A2, started to receive AZT and DDI when he was 7 years old. In April 1999, the patient had a significant increase in viral load and so the antiretroviral therapy was switched to d4T, 3TC and Ritonavir. Triglyceride plasma levels reached 460mg/dl after this switch and were always above the reference value. In December 1999, the patient complained of pain in the right hip. On physical examination, he had limited movement of this joint. Magnetic resonance imaging of the right hip showed flattening, deformity and fragmentation of the femoral head, compatible with osteonecrosis. Few cases of femoral head osteonecrosis have been associated with HIV infection, in the absence of the classic risk factors for osteonecrosis. Metabolic risk factors include hypertriglyceridaemia. The immunological disorders that occur in the HIV infection may predispose the patient to avascular osteonecrosis and metabolic disorders, particularly hypertriglyceridemia, while the use of protease inhibitors, may be considered an additional risk factor for osteonecrosis. Given the importance of premature diagnosis and to avoid complications of osteonecrosis, we recommend evaluation of musculoskeletal symptoms in children receiving protease inhibitors.

Osteonecrosis of the Hip in Patients with Aplastic Anemia

The incidence and clinical and magnetic resonance imaging features of osteonecrosis of the hip were evaluated in patients with aplastic anemia. Two hundred and forty-one patients with aplastic anemia were examined using MR imaging of bone marrow during the five years from 1994 to 1998. Osteonecrosis of the hip was observed on MR imaging in nineteen (15 males and 4 females, mean age 35 yr) of the 241 patients. It was present in both hips in 14 patients, and there were five cases with unilateral occurrence, with a total of 33 involved hips. All except for five hips with associated bone marrow edema revealed increased fatty marrow conversion in the proximal femoral metaphysis. In nine patients, osteonecrosis was detected without any pain. Five patients already had osteonecrosis before any medication was administered. Twelve patients received antilymphocyte globulin, and seven patients received a low dose of steroids before the MR diagnosis of osteonecrosis. Osteonecrosis of the hip frequently develops in patients with aplastic anemia (7.9%), associated with fatty marrow conversion of the proximal femoral metaphysis.

Luxación traumática de cadera en la infancia: estudio prospectivo a seis años / Traumatic dislocation of the hip: a six year prospective trial

Se presenta una revisión prospectiva sobre luxación traumática de la cadera en la infancia, a partir del estudio que se desarrolló en el Hospital General de Urgencias Xoco, de la Ciudad de México, en un periodo de dos años, entre enero de 1982 y diciembre de 1983, en el que se registraron 17 casos. El tratamiento consistió en un periodo de tracción esquelética supracondílea de una semana (en los pacientes con más de 15 días de evolución) previamente a la reducción y tres semanas más después de la misma. En los pacientes de edad mayor de seis años se aplicó aparato ensayado tipo Calot por seis semanas después de la reducción. Se redujeron las caderas por manipulación cerrada en 16 de los 17 casos, y sólo una que tenía un ojal en la cápsula articular requirió reducción quirúrgica. Tuvieron mejor resultado los pacientes que iniciaron el apoyo de las extremidades inferiores después de nueve semanas (p= 0.01). Después de seis años de seguimiento, se obtuvo buen resultado en 14 de las 17 caderas. De las tres restantes, una presentó coxa magna, y dos necrosis aséptica de la cabeza femoral. Estos tres pacientes con mal resultado cursaron con periodos superiores a 15 días entre la luxación y la reducción, así como inicio temprano de la marcha.