Avascular necrosis of the hip after the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background and Objectives: It is clear that COVID-19 can have a wide range of effects on the body, and the musculoskeletal system is no exception. Studies are ongoing to better understand how the virus may impact the hip bone and joint tissue. However, it is known that COVID-19 can cause inflammation and damage to various parts of the body, including the bones and joints, which could lead to pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis is done with ten patients admitted to the hospital due to COVID-19 and later complained of hip pain. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on the patients, and it was found that they had degenerative changes characterized by avascular necrosis (AVN) of the head of the femur. One of the patients had a history of previous surgery on the femur with a plate and screws and was doing well but developed AVN after contracting COVID-19. Results: Observation among these groups shows a strong association between the history of COVID-19, high levels of IgG antibodies, the presence of joint abnormalities, and moderately severe symptoms. There is no evidence of identifying autoimmune, degenerative, or AVN diseases. This set of patients responded positively to supportive therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs used in empirical treatment, which subsided joint pain and acute inflammatory symptoms. Conclusions: It has been determined that there are significant musculoskeletal complications in COVID-19 patients, including AVN, which may be caused by the high use of steroids and microembolism leading to bone necrosis. Therefore, further studies and long-Term follow-up are recommended.