A case of hip osteoarthrosis contaminated by fungi. A histological study

A pathological study of a surgical specimen of hip osteoarthrosis presenting a superficial fungal infection (presumably Aspergillus) without any known origin is reported. Fungal penetration was mild in cartilage and fibrocartilage and more pronounced in naked cancellous bone, but it did not occur in eburnated bone or in the deep osteomedullar area. This observation indicates an unusual combination of infection and osteoarthrosis. Relationships between fungi and bone or cartilage as well as interaction between osteoarthrotic remodeling and a superimposed disease are discussed.