Pathologic dislocation of the hip in von Recklinghausen's disease: a report of two cases

We report two cases of von Recklinghausen's disease in which hip dislocations occurred gradually without trauma. In one case, the right hip joint dislocated at the age of 8 years, and in another case, the left hip dislocated at 2 years and the right hip at 3 years. Each case was accompanied by bone changes around the affected hips, vertebral deformity, and spinal tumor. One case had hemihypertrophy of the involved lower extremity. Both structural changes around the hip joint and paralysis may have resulted in the hip dislocation.