Acute cholecystitis after orthopaedic operations.

When acute cholecystitis follows orthopaedic operations, the disease is frequently obscure and fulminating, with rapid progress to gangrene and perforation of the gallbladder, which may be fatal. Three cases are reported and the literature is reviewed. Various aspects of the disorder are discussed. It is important that orthopaedic surgeons should be aware of the condition in order to be able to make an early diagnosis and so prevent a lethal outcome.