Osteoarthritis associated with osteopetrosis treated by total knee arthroplasty. Report of a case.

Osteopetrosis is due to a defect in osteoclastic cell function and results in osteosclerosis and progressive obliteration of the marrow spaces. Early onset osteoarthritis is associated with osteopetrosis. The authors describe a case of early onset osteoarthritis associated with osteopetrosis treated by total knee arthroplasty. The marblelike quality of osteopetrotic bone makes surgical treatment of these patients technically challenging and requires modification of standard surgical technique.