Avascular necrosis of the femoral head in HIV positive patients-an assessment of risk factors and early response to surgical treatment

26 consecutive patients (37 hips) with avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head treated surgically at our institution from 1999 to 2008 were reviewed . The aims of the study were to evaluate the risk factors associated with AVN in HIV positive and HIV negative individuals, and assess early response to total hip replacement (THR) surgery in HIV positive and negative patients. There were 15 male and 11 female patients in total. The mean age for all patients was 47.1± 8.0 years (range, 33 to 66 years). 12 patients were HIV positive, 11 patients were HIV negative and 3 patients had unknown HIV status. Excessive alcohol intake was the most common risk factor for developing AVN .15 patients (58%) had more than one risk factor for AVN and only 2/12 (17%) HIV positive patients had no other risk factor apart from HIV infection. There were no early postoperative complications in 34 arthroplasties in both HIV positive and negative patients. The aetiology of AVN seems often to be multifactorial, even in the presence of HIV infection. Early response to arthroplasty surgery in AVN of the femoral head is equally good irrespective of the HIV serostatus of the patients.