Aseptic necrosis of the hip is the death of bone tissue in the head of the femur due to an inadequate blood supply.
Certain bones have a fragile blood supply. The head of the femur in the hip joint is the most likely to suffer loss of blood supply and consequent tissue death. If unidentified and uncorrected, it will progress to deformity, causing pain and a limp.
Any event or condition that damages the arteries that feed the head of the femur raises the risk of aseptic necrosis. The most common events are fractures in the upper femur and dislocations of the hip. Other causes reduce the blood supply by occluding or compressing the blood vessels.
There is a specific type of aseptic necrosis of the hip called Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease that affects the growth plate at the upper end of the femur in children, most commonly boys aged 5-10 years old.
In the US, about 10,000-20,000 new patients are diagnosed each year. They are predominantly males, typically less than 40 years old.
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition.
The following factors increase your chance of developing aseptic necrosis of the hip. If you have or have had any of these risk factors, tell your doctor:
The few symptoms of aseptic necrosis of the hip are nonspecific and may be caused by other, less serious health conditions. If you experience one of them and are at risk for aseptic necrosis of the hip, see your physician.
A small number of patients do not experience the typical symptoms.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. If the diagnosis is suspected, you will be referred to an orthopedic surgeon.
Tests may include the following:
Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
Taking nonsteroidal and other pain relievers and performing non-weight-bearing exercises may prevent or minimize disease progression.
There are several surgical procedures used to treat aseptic necrosis of the hip. The choice depends upon the extent of disease and the age and health status of the patient. Bone grafts, decompression of the inside of the bone, realignment of the bone, and prosthetic hip replacement are all available.
RESOURCES:
Johns Hopkins University Medical School
http://www.mri.jhu.edu
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
http://www.hmc.psu.edu
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
BC Health Guide
http://www.bchealthguide.org
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html
References:
Abeles M, Urman JD, Rothfield NF. Aseptic necrosis of bone in systemic lupus erythematosus. Relationship to glucocorticoid therapy. Arch Intern Med . 1978;138:750.
Agarwala S, Jain D, Joshi VR, Sule A. Efficacy of alendronate, a bisphosphonate, in the treatment of AVN of the hip. A prospective open-label study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2005;44:352.
Avascular necrosis. DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamicmedical.com/dynamed.nsf?opendatabase . Accessed August 9, 2005.
Avascular necrosis. The Merck Manual . 17th ed. West Point, PA: Merck and Co; 1999.
Martin K, Lawson-Ayayi S, Miremont-Salame G, et al. Symptomatic bone disorders in HIV-infected patients: incidence in the Aquitaine cohort (1999-2002). HIV Med . 2004;5:421.
Matsuo K, Hirohata T, Sugioka Y, et al. Influence of alcohol intake, cigarette smoking, and occupational status on idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Clin Orthop . 1988;234:115.
Metselaar HJ, van Steenberge EJ, Bijnen AB. Incidence of osteonecrosis after renal transplantation. Acta Orthop Scand . 1985;56:413.
Last reviewed November 2008 by John C. Keel, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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