Aseptic Loosening after Total Hip Arthroplasty in an Acromegalic Patient: A Case Report

Introduction: Acromegaly is a rare disorder characterized by excess secretion of growth hormone and its principle mediator, insulin-like growth factor-1. Although acromegaly is frequently associated with osteoarthritis, the outcome of arthroplasty in this population is not documented.

Case report: We report here a case of aseptic loosening of an uncemented total hip arthroplasty acetabulum in an acromegalic patient that was revised with a cemented cup. It has been suggested that the incidence of this complication is increased in other pathology with a similarly high bone-turnover (e.g., Paget's disease), but this complication has however not yet been reported in the setting of acromegaly.

Conclusion: Although coincidence cannot be ruled out, multiple metabolic hypotheses could account for an altered osseointegration process in the presence of acromegaly, which could lead to a higher risk of loosening.