Chondrolysis of the Hip in a Female Adolescent with Marfan’s Syndrome: Case Report

Chondrolysis of the hip is a rare condition characterized by progressive destruction of the articular cartilage of the femoral head and the acetabulum. The clinical outcome varies from complete recovery to severe ankylosis of the hip joint. The etiology remains unknown, although many pathogenetic mechanisms have been suggested, including a generalized connective tissue disorder. Marfan’s syndrome is an inherited disorder of the connective tissue with, mainly, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal manifestations. This study aims to report a rare case of a female adolescent with chondrolysis of the hip and Marfan’s syndrome. Chondrolysis of the hip was a diagnosis of exclusion. The patient was treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, protected weight-bearing, a skin traction, and physical therapy with good response 36 months after the diagnosis. Operative treatment was not necessary. A connection between chondrolysis of the hip and Marfan’s syndrome may exist. Fibrillin-1 abnormality in Marfan’s syndrome may be implicated in the pathogenic mechanism of chondrolysis of the hip.