[Rapidly destructive osteoarthritis of the hip: case presentation].

The rapidly destructive osteoarthritis of the hip is a variant of osteoarthritis that is characterized by hip pain during one to twelve months and rapid destruction of the femoral head, in absence of infectious, neurologic, metabolic or inflammatory disease. We present the case of a 66 year- old male with severe COPD that referred pain in both hips and was unable to walk. In the radiography of the pelvis complete destruction of both femoral heads was observed. The patient did not have abnormalities in blood tests that were related to infectious, neurologic or metabolic diseases. The patient underwent bilateral total hip replacement with prosthesis and physical therapy later. The patient functional status greatly improved with this treatment.