Surface morphology of Asian cadaveric hips

The joint surfaces of 60 hips obtained from the cadavers of elderly Asians were studied to determine the incidence, the grade and the distribution of both non-progressive (age-related) and progressive degenerative changes. It was observed that in the Asian population of 40 to 90 years of age, non-progressive changes were common, being seen in 66% of the acetabular specimens and 50% of the femoral heads. Only one specimen of the 60 showed unexplained progressive degenerative change. We conclude that primary osteoarthritis of the hip is rare in Asians.