Abstract

Background: Arthritis of the hip caused by arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) has been rarely reported. Therefore, total hip replacement (THR) in patients with AVM-induced arthritis of the hip is challenging.

Case Summary: We report a 44-year-old woman with aggravated right hip pain during the past decade. The patient presented with severe pain and a functional disorder of the right hip. X-ray examination revealed severely narrowed right hip joint space and abnormal trabecular bone loss in the femoral neck and trochanter area. Doppler ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography angiography revealed AVMs surrounding the right hip, along with erosion. To ensure the safety of THR, we performed vascular embolization and temporary balloon occlusion of the iliac artery three times during the operation. However, serious hemorrhage occurred, which was rescued by the multimodality blood conservation strategy. THR was successfully performed, and the patient was discharged 8 d later for rehabilitation. Postoperative pathological examination showed osteonecrosis of the femoral head with malformed thick-walled vessels and focal granulomatous inflammation of the surrounding soft tissues. The Harris Hip Scale score increased from 31 to 82 at 3 mo of follow-up. The patient was followed up for 1 year, and all her clinical symptoms were significantly alleviated.

Conclusion: Arthritis of the hip caused by AVMs is rare in clinical practice. The activity and function of the involved hip joint can be effectively treated with THR after comprehensive imaging and multidisciplinary consultation.

Core Tip: Arthritis of the hip caused by arteriovenous malformations is rarely reported. Total hip replacement (THR) is a reliable and effective option for the treatment of advanced arthritis of the hip. We report a 44-year-old woman with aggravated pain in the right hip during the past decade. With the vascular intervention and multimodality blood conservation strategy. THR can be successfully performed in patients with AVM-induced arthritis of the hip.