Transient osteoporosis of the hip
Updates to Article Attributes
Idiopathic transient osteoporosis of the hip (ITOH) is a self limitedlimiting clinical entity of unknown cause, although almost certainly a vascular basis and possible overactivity of the sympathetic system exists. There is some controversy as to whether ITOH represents a very early, reversible stage of avascular necrosis (AVN).
Epidemiology
Although initially described in pregnancy, ITOH affects middle age men (40-55 year olds) with M:F ratio 3:1. When women are affected; it is usually during 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Generally, only one hip is affected at a time. Recurrence in the same hip can occur.
Clinical presentation
Typically patients present with spontaneous onset of hip pain, usually progressive over several weeks. Patients generally do not have risk factors for avascular necrosis and do not go on to form avascular necrosis.
In some instances patients can go on to develop similar changes in the opposite hip or in other joints; such cases should be referred to as regional migratory osteoporosis.
Radiographic features
Plain film
Typically plain films are normal initially, but usually become abnormal by 4-8 weeks following the onset of symptoms. Findings include:
- subchondral cortical loss involving femoral head and neck: virtually pathognomonic 2
- often profound osteopenia of the femoral head and neck region
- a joint effusion may be present
- joint space is always preserved
MRI
MRI demonstrates bone marrow oedema pattern involving the femoral head, neck and even intertrochanteric region:
-
T1: decreased signal with loss of normal fatty marrow signal:
- NB it is worth having a coronal of both hips, so that one can compare distribution of red marrow
- T2: high signal, often heterogeneous, and may be striking
Bone scan
Typically, skeletal scintigraphy demonstrates markedly increased homogeneous uptake in the femoral head; a finding which is seen well before osteopenia is seen on plain films.
Treatment and prognosis
Typically transient osteoporosis of the hip resolves spontaneously within 6-8 months after protected weight-bearing and symptomatic support.
Differential diagnosis
General imaging differential considerations include:
- avascular necrosis: absence of subchondral low signal on T2 or contrast enhanced T1 images suggests favorable outcome e.g. reversible diseases
- stress fracture
- septic arthritis
-<p><strong>Idiopathic transient osteoporosis of the hip</strong> <strong>(ITOH)</strong> is a self limited clinical entity of unknown cause, although almost certainly a vascular basis and possible overactivity of the sympathetic system exists. There is some controversy as to whether ITOH represents a very early, reversible stage of <a href="/articles/avascular-necrosis">avascular necrosis (AVN)</a>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Although initially described in pregnancy, ITOH affects middle age men (40-55 year olds) with M:F ratio 3:1. When women are affected; it is usually during 3<sup>rd</sup> trimester of pregnancy. Generally, only one hip is affected at a time. Recurrence in the same hip can occur.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Typically patients present with spontaneous onset of hip pain, usually progressive over several weeks. Patients generally do not have risk factors for avascular necrosis and do not go on to form avascular necrosis. </p><p>In some instances patients can go on to develop similar changes in the opposite hip or in other joints; such cases should be referred to as <a href="/articles/regional-migratory-osteoporosis">regional migratory osteoporosis</a>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain film</h5><p>Typically plain films are normal initially, but usually become abnormal by 4-8 weeks following the onset of symptoms. Findings include:</p><ul>- +<p><strong>Idiopathic transient osteoporosis of the hip</strong> <strong>(ITOH)</strong> is a self limiting clinical entity of unknown cause, although almost certainly a vascular basis and possible overactivity of the sympathetic system exists. There is some controversy as to whether ITOH represents a very early, reversible stage of <a href="/articles/avascular-necrosis">avascular necrosis (AVN)</a>.</p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>Although initially described in pregnancy, ITOH affects middle age men (40-55 year olds) with M:F ratio 3:1. When women are affected; it is usually during 3<sup>rd</sup> trimester of pregnancy. Generally, only one hip is affected at a time. Recurrence in the same hip can occur.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Typically patients present with spontaneous onset of hip pain, usually progressive over several weeks. Patients generally do not have risk factors for avascular necrosis and do not go on to form avascular necrosis. </p><p>In some instances patients can go on to develop similar changes in the opposite hip or in other joints; such cases should be referred to as <a href="/articles/regional-migratory-osteoporosis">regional migratory osteoporosis</a>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Plain film</h5><p>Typically plain films are normal initially, but usually become abnormal by 4-8 weeks following the onset of symptoms. Findings include:</p><ul>
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