[Acute chondrolysis on primary protrusio acetabuli in children]

Two cases of acute chondrolysis of the upper femoral epiphysis associated with protrusio acetabuli are reported in two girls respectively 13 and 12 Y.O. The disease was unilateral in one patient and bilateral in other. Acute chondrolysis is characterized by onset of pain, restricted movements of the hip and evolution to an hip ankylosis within a few months. As usual no evidence of inflammatory disease could be shown at biology or at pathology of synovial membrane or of femoral head. CT and MR studies proved to be contributive in the first case. It's the author's opinion that in these 2 cases, chondrolysis appears as a complication of preexistent Protrusio Acetabuli.