Intra-articular hip joint osteoid osteoma: Challenging diagnosis and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation treatment

Atypical intra-articular osteoid osteoma can be difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. We report a case of a right acetabular subchondral intra-articular osteoid osteoma in a young male patient which was initially diagnosed as femoroacetabular impingement due to its atypical clinical and radiological presentations. After fully working up the patient the lesion was successfully treated with percutaneous CT-guided low-power bipolar radiofrequency ablation using several per procedural articular cartilage thermal protective measures including intra-articular thermocouple, and continuous per procedural joint space cooling with Dextrose 5% solution. A precise RFA electrode placement, using the No-touch technique, and applying different passive and active thermal protective measures were helpful in avoiding collateral damage of the hip joint articular cartilages. atypical intra-articular osteoid osteomas necessitate pertinent correlation between the clinical and radiological presentations. As far as intra-articular or subchondral nidus ablation is concerned, thermal protective measures should be considered.