[Bone marrow edema syndrome of the hip].
BACKGROUND
Bone marrow edema syndrome (BMES) is a rare clinical condition. Its etiology is unknown and it can be seen in different locations. In the case of the hip, avascular necrosis is the main differential diagnosis.


OBJECTIVE
To present our experience of BMES of the hip and a review of the literature.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients with hip pain that met clinical, radiological, and magnetic resonance imaging criteria for BMES. Clinical outcome and clinical and radiological follow up are presented.


RESULTS
Two men and two women (one of them pregnant) aged 42, 48, 36 and 26 years old, fulfilled criteria. Treatment included limited weight bearing, non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, intranasal calcitonin and physical therapy. Complete remission of symptoms was observed within five to seven months. At an average follow up of 36 months, all patients presented complete function of the hip, returning to their previous activity levels, with no new episodes of BMES.


CONCLUSIONS
It is important to be aware of this condition as part of the differential diagnosis of hip pain to avoid aggressive and unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Departamento de Ortopedia y Traumatología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Marco
M
Carrión
Pedro Pablo
PP
Amenábar
Patricio
P
Rodríguez
Oscar
O
Contreras
Jaime
J
Paulos
D000328:Adult; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000175:diagnosis; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D013577:Syndrome