Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis are diseases of increasing incidence and prevalence with age.
It is believed that the relationship between the two diseases is an inverse one. The purpose
of this study was to delineate the bone mineral density and vitamin-D status of 40 women
scheduled for cementless total hip arthroplasty. Based on the results, 28 % of the patients
were classified as osteoporotic and 40 % osteopenic. The vitamin-D levels were below 37
nmol/l in 21 % of the patients. In addition, hypercalcemia was observed in 18 % and elevated
parathyroid hormone levels in 10 % of the patients. These results oblige the need to consider
the presence of low mineral density, vitamin-D deficiency and other metabolic bone diseases
in women with advanced hip osteoarthritis.