A Rare Case of Bilateral Hip Tumoral Calcinosis With Intertrochanteric Fracture Treated by Closed Reduction Internal Fixation (CRIF) Using a Proximal Femoral Nail

Tumoral calcinosis, also referred to as Teutschländer disease is a rare familial disorder characterized by painless, periarticular lumps or masses. Large amorphous calcific concentrations that surround the joints are the defining feature. These lesions have fibrous septa that divide them into lobules and may often show fluid/calcium levels (milk of calcium/suspended hydroxyapatite crystals). In our case report, a 24-year-old male came to the outpatient department (OPD) with complaints of pain over the right hip for two days and swelling over both hips for six years. He was apparently well two days prior to the hospital visit, when he met with a road traffic accident, falling off his bike. A plain radiograph of the pelvis and bilateral hip joints along with cross-table lateral views were done, which depicted a typical appearance of amorphous and multilobulated ("cloud-like") calcifications located in a periarticular distribution in both hips along with an intertrochanteric fracture in the right hip. A CT scan, done for better delineation of the calcific masses and fracture pattern, showed no obvious erosion or osseous destruction by the adjacent soft-tissue masses. Laboratory investigations revealed a serum calcium level of 8.8 mg/dl and a serum phosphorous level of 6.0 mg/dl. The patient was taken up for surgery after routine pre-operative investigations and a pre-anaesthesia check-up. Closed reduction internal fixation (CRIF) was done using a proximal femoral nail (PFN). A biopsy of the soft-tissue masses was sent for histopathology, which was suggestive of lobules of calcific material surrounded by histiocytic giant cells. The patient responded well to the treatment with no residual discharge from the incision site, and his treatment was continued with phosphate binders as prescribed by the endocrinologist.