| Avascular necrosis | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Osteonecrosis,[1] bone infarction,[2] aseptic necrosis,[1] ischemic bone necrosis[1] |
 | |
| Femoral head showing a flap of cartilage due to avascular necrosis (osteochondritis dissecans). Specimen removed during total hip replacement surgery. | |
| Specialty | Orthopedics |
| Symptoms | Joint pain, decreased ability to move[1] |
| Complications | Osteoarthritis[1] |
| Usual onset | Gradual[1] |
| Risk factors | Bone fractures, joint dislocations, high dose steroids[1] |
| Diagnostic method | Medical imaging, biopsy[1] |
| Differential diagnosis | Osteopetrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome, sickle cell disease[3] |
| Treatment | Medication, not walking on the affected leg, stretching, surgery[1] |
| Frequency | ~15,000 per year (US)[4] |
Avascular necrosis (AVN), also called osteonecrosis or bone infarction, is death of bone tissue due to interruption of the blood supply.[1] Early on, there may be no symptoms.[1] Gradually joint pain may develop, which may limit the person's ability to move.[1] Complications may include collapse of the bone or nearby joint surface.[1]
Risk factors include bone fractures, joint dislocations, alcoholism, and the use of high-dose steroids.[1] The condition may also occur without any clear reason.[1] The most commonly affected bone is the femur (thigh bone).[1] Other relatively common sites include the upper arm bone, knee, shoulder, and ankle.[1] Diagnosis is typically by medical imaging such as X-ray, CT scan, or MRI.[1] Rarely biopsy may be used.[1]
Treatments may include medication, not walking on the affected leg, stretching, and surgery.[1] Most of the time surgery is eventually required and may include core decompression, osteotomy, bone grafts, or joint replacement.[1]
About 15,000 cases occur per year in the United States.[4] People 30 to 50 years old are most commonly affected.[3] Males are more commonly affected than females.[4]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Questions and Answers about Osteonecrosis (Avascular Necrosis)". NIAMS. October 2015. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
nawazkhanwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b "Osteonecrosis". NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). 2009. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
- ^ a b c Ferri, Fred F. (2017). Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2018 E-Book: 5 Books in 1. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 166. ISBN 9780323529570. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017.
