ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2006 December;57(6):491-5

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The role of geodes in the hip arthrosis secondary to the rheumatoid arthritis

Zirattu F., Zirattu G., Fadda M., Satta G., Mele A., Idini I.

Clinica Ortopedica Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia Università degli Studi di Sassari, Sassari

Aim. The different location of geodes in the same femoral head, their number, dimensions, origins, gave us the idea to write this paper. So far, cystic hollows in primary arthrosis have already been analyzed. In our study, we will describe the outcomes regarding the same phenomenon in reumathoid arthritis.
Methods. We analyzed 20 femoral heads, chosen considering the same preoperatory radiographic weightiness diagrams. The heads were cut horizontally and vertically. On 3 mm thick slices, thanks to constant radiographic enlargement by semiautomatic images analyzator, we detected the number, site and dimensions of geodes. The data obtained, gathered into groups according to the quadrant (limited by two orthogonal planes crossing the centre of rotation), have been statistically analyzed (Anova and t-test).
Results. Ninety-two geodes has been counted, in almost the same number distributed in all quadrants. Comparing the statistics for sector, there are no significant differences between all quadrants. We can only see the prevalence of the bigger geodes between all quadrants.
Conclusions. According to preliminary results, it would turn out just one difference between the geodes observed in primary arthrosis and in hip arthrosis secondary to rheumatoid arthritis. This difference is in the dimensions of cystic hollows. They are bigger in rheumatoid arthritis according to the physiopathology and the anatomopathologic particularities.