Rapid Destruction of the Hip Joint After Acetabular Fracture in an Elderly Patient

Abstract

Cases of rapidly progressive destruction of the hip joint after acetabular fractures are rarely reported. A 78-year-old woman fell from a chair. There was no fracture diagnosis; however, retrospective evaluation of the plain radiograph showed a slightly displaced fracture of the acetabulum. Her pain worsened after experiencing additional minor falls. The left hip joint had severe bone defects at 3 months after the initial injury. She underwent total hip arthroplasty using a KT-plate with an autogenous bone graft for acetabular bone defects. This case indicates that rapid destruction of the hip joint may occur after acetabular fracture from minor falls and bone fragility in elderly patients. In such cases, closer follow-up with advanced imaging can lead to early surgical intervention before severe destruction develops.

Keywords

• Acetabular fracture
• Rapidly destructive arthritis
• Total hip arthroplasty
• Low energy
• Postoperative complication