Publication:

Abnormal ossified structures around the hip joint and its clinical implications

Background The hip joint is the body’s second largest weight-bearing joint forms a connection from the lower limb to the pelvic girdle. It is formed by an articulation between the pelvic acetabulum and the head of the femur. Ankylosis or fusion of the joint, ossification of the adjacent ligaments and calcific tendinitis of adjacent muscles can decrease the mobility of the joint. The study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence of abnormal ossified structures around the hip joint.

Methods This study was carried out on 228 dry human hip bones (right- 114 and left-114) and 228 dry human femur bones (right- 114 and left-114) irrespective of age and sex at Varun Arjun medical college-Banthra, UP, KMCT Medical College, Manassery-Calicut and Melaka Manipal Medical College-Manipal. All the hip and femur bones were macroscopically inspected for the abnormal ossified structures around the pelvic acetabulum and upper end of the femur. Photographs of the abnormal ossified structures were taken for proper documentation.

Results Very rare and unusual unilateral ossified and complete fused left hip joint was noted (0.43%). Unilateral ossified acetabular labrum with ossified transverse acetabular ligament was noted in seven right hip bones (3.07%). Unusual ossified fibrous capsule on the posterior aspect of neck of femur was noted in 4 left sided femur bones (1.75%). Unusual unilateral ossified deposits near the greater trochanter and intertrochanteric line of femur was noted in nine left sided femur bones (3.94%).

Conclusions Anatomical knowledge of ankylosis of hip joint, ossification of the ligaments and muscles tendons around the hip joint as found in the present study made this study unique such abnormal ossifications may be helpful for clinicians, radiologists and surgeons for differential diagnosis and can be implicated in the development of innovative treatments of hip joint and hip pains.