Protrusio acetabuli in adult rheumatoid arthritis.

In a retrospective study of 100 patients with adult rheumatoid arthritis, 23/100 (23%) were found presenting protrusio acetabuli (PA). PA of the hips was present in 28/193 (14.5%). This complication was more frequent in females, with 19/23 cases (82%), and its presence and severity were associated with longer duration of disease. On analysing the probable relationship between PA and glucocorticoid intake, no statistically significant differences were found between patients who had received such drugs and those who had not. With the method employed and in a selected rheumatoid arthritis population, PA was found in high prevalence.