Spectrum of intra-articular findings of the acute and subacute painful hip with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia/spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia.

Seven patients (10 hips), five with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia and two with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, were studied as to the etiology of a significant change in their baseline symptoms. Patients presented with decreased activity due to increased pain and mechanical symptoms and had a positive impingement test on physical examination. Three patients had a sudden increase in pain during normal walking and had subsequent difficulty with weight bearing. Arthrotomy or arthroscopy was used to identify the intra-articular pathology. Findings included loose bodies, chondromalacia, and labral pathology. Chondral avulsion fractures were found in the three patients who had a sudden increase in symptoms. Significant intra-articular pathology can develop in patients with multiple epiphyseal dysplasia or spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia.