Idiopathic Transient Osteoporosis during Pregnancy - Report of a Clinical Case

Idiopathic Transient Osteoporosis (ITO) is a rare entity that may occur during pregnancy, usually manifesting in the third trimester and is considered a diagnosis of exclusion. When present in the hip, it is usually characterized by joint pain, claudicating gait, and osteoporosis of the femoral head with preservation of the joint space. These early clinical and radiological signs may be confused with those of aseptic necrosis, infection, or bone tumors, making it important to exclude these differential diagnoses. Complete resolution of this condition is usually prolonged and may take anywhere from 6 months to 1 or 2 years.

This article presents the case of a 48-year-old Caucasian pregnant woman who presented a non-traumatic left hip pain. After the exclusion of infectious and tumoral diseases, a diagnosis of a less probable transient idiopathic osteoporosis was suspected. Magnetic resonance imaging images after childbirth supported this diagnosis. She recovered clinically and imagiologically with no complications 2 years after delivery.

Rarely, hip pain during pregnancy can occur due to transient osteoporotic injuries in the proximal femur. It is more frequent during the third trimester and although it resolves spontaneously in the following months after childbirth, we should always be aware of these less likely diagnoses.