Intraosseous pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in coxarthrosis.

We have investigated the intraosseous partial pressures in 15 patients suffering from primary arthrosis of the hip. The measurements were performed by a mass spectrometer via a specially designed inlet system. The average pO2 and pCO2 values in the femoral head were 8.2 and 6.8 kPa (62 and 52 mmHg), respectively, and in the greater trochanter 6.6 and 5.1 kPa (51 and 39 mmHg). The average intraosseous pressures in the femoral head and greater trochanter were 5.5 and 3.0 kPa (42 and 23 mmHg). The differences between the intraosseous pressures, pO2 and pCO2 in the greater trochanter and the femoral head were all significant.