CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS IN HEMOCHROMATOSIS HIP ARTHROPATHY

During a 9-year period, 15 patients with hemochromatosis hip arthropat hy required 19 total hip arthroplasties for disabling hip pain, Preope rative presentation, hip function, pathologic evaluation of the femora l head, and radiographic findings were reviewed, Postoperative followu p averaging 5.7 years (range, 2-11 years) was performed to assess hip pain and function after total hip arthroplasty, The average preoperati ve Hospital for Special Surgery hip score was 15 points (range, 4-24 p oints), and this improved to 30 points (range, 4-38 points) after tota l hip arthroplasty, Only one of 15 patients required revision surgery at 10 years for acetabular loosening, All other patients were pain fre e, with improved function at latest followup, Histologic evaluation of the resected femoral heads revealed evidence of primary or secondary osteonecrosis in seven of 19 (37%) specimens, Articular cartilage avul sion at the level of the tidemark was identified in eight of 19 (42%) specimens, and calcium pyrophosphate deposition was identified in five of 19 (26%) specimens, These pathologic findings suggest a predictabl e progression of the arthritic process in patients with hemochromatosi s.