[Osteoradionecrosis of the hip joint]

The radiation induced osteonecrosis of the hip is a rare complication after radiation therapy. The time of radiological manifestation is dramatically longer (2 to 17 years) than reported from other bones. There is an inverse correlation between age at the time of radiotherapy and the latency time. Sclerosis, focal lyses, fractures and migration of the femoral head are seen in the radiographs. Differential diagnosis to neoplastic changes should be achieved by bone scan and MRI. We have seen five patients with this condition and had operated on four of them. Treated with THR the fractured acetabulae healed within 9 months and the sclerosis diminished. We did not see any progression of the damage induced by irradiation.