Rapidly destructive bilateral hip disease: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

We describe the case of an elderly woman with rapid destruction of the right hip followed by the same involvement of her left hip 10 months later. The clinical history, the physical examination and radiographic images suggested the diagnosis of rapidly destructive hip disease. This disease is a distinct entity, unilateral in 80%–90% of cases, which requires extensive investigation and special efforts for its identification. Essential elements for the differential diagnosis are discussed.