ABSTRACT
The incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head is increasing in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The etiology of osteonecrosis in HIV positive patients is multifactorial. The factors considered responsible include antiretroviral therapy, corticosteroid use and resultant hyperlipidemia, hypercoagulability, immune reconstitution, the increased prevalence of alcoholism in this population and megesterol acetate. The emergence of the HIV has highlighted the need for surgeons to understand the epidemiology of percutaneous injuries and other blood exposure in a surgical setting. We report a case of avascular necrosis of the hip treated with a total hip replacement, with particular focus on the etio-pathology of the disease and preventive measures for its transmission in an orthopedic surgery setting.
