Osteonecrosis of the femoral head in patients infected with HIV: a report of 4 cases and literature review

It is important for clinicians treating musculoskeletal complaints to be aware of the possibility of the diagnosis of osteonecrosis in HIV-infected patients. It has been suggested in the literature that when a patient is diagnosed as having osteonecrosis with no other apparent risk factors, the patient should be tested for HIV infection. Further work needs to be carried out to determine any association between HIV infection and osteonecrosis of the femoral head before any such guidelines can be suggested.