Journal of Orthopaedic Reports (Jan 2023)
A case series on Covid-19 infection and avascular necrosis of hip
Abstract
Background: Musculoskeletal involvement was the least addressed area of post covid 19 infection sequela in literature even though they significantly reflect in mobility of survivors and ends up in morbidity. Emphasis on this grey area may enlighten further research on the same. The study aims to identify the relationship between Covid-19 infection and avascular necrosis of femoral head, by retrospectively assessing the Covid-19 history of patients who attended a tertiary centre. Materials and methods: Study Period: 26/7/2021–26/7/2022. The data of all the patients diagnosed with avascular necrosis of hip during from 26/7/21 to 26/7/22 were retrospectively assessed to identify the history of COVID 19. Results: A total of 17 patients were available for the study, the mean age of the patients were 37 years (range 23–60). Out of the 17 patients 7 were female and 10 were male. All the patients were presented to the OPD with hip pain, it was found that out of the total 17 patients, 14 had history of COVID 19 infection (82.4%). On detailed history assessment, it was also found that all the 14 post Covid patients had their symptoms onset after COVID. The retrospective analysis of the AVN patients over the study period of one year indicates that 82.4% of the patients had a history of Covid prior to the onset of AVN symptoms, with the average duration of onset of post Covid symptoms being 66 days. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of post Covid-19 infection AVN hip can direct the management spectrum to its lower extremities and need of a case control study to confirm the causative effect Covid19 infection on avascular necrosis of hip were suggested.
