Case Report: 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging of Rapidly Progressive Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Abstract

Rapidly progressive osteoarthritis of the hip (RPOH) is a rare disease with few mentions in the literature. Recent studies have suggested a female predisposition. The nature of disease progression and some specific radiological features like lesion patterns, location within the hip joint and the presence of subchondral fractures help differentiate rapidly progressive osteoarthritis from classical osteoarthritis. Awareness of RPOH as a differential in arthropathies among clinicians would save crucial time, reduce unnecessary investigations and help better manage patients. The treatment in earlier stages is often conservative, managed only by painkillers, physiotherapy, and traction however, most of the cases need surgical intervention, i.e., total hip replacement. The following case study is a classic case of RPOH in a male with trauma as one of its etiological factors and has progressed to the final grade, i.e., grade III according to grading by Ancut a Zazgyva displaying all the imaging features of RPOH as described in the literature.