Abstract

There are few reports of experiences with hip arthroplasty in patients with Gaucher's disease. Review of the literature shows a high rate of loosening after any type of arthroplasty. The clinical, roentgenographic and histopathological findings of a porous-coated hip arthroplasty in Gaucher's disease necessitating revision after 5 years are reported. Because we found typical lipid-laden Gaucher cells at the bone prosthesis interface we support the hypothesis that loosening in Gaucher's disease is due to continued Gaucher cell proliferation and erosion of bone. Loosening seems to be related to the disease and not to a specific type of prosthetic component.