Transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH) is an uncommon condition with a poorly defined aetiology. Despite its benign prognosis, its long clinical course causes a prolonged period of functional disability in middle-aged patients. We describe two patients with TOH who showed a rapid response to deflazacort, a bone-sparing corticoid. Deflazacort may become a useful tool to shorten the otherwise lengthy recovery period of TOH.