Avascular Necrosis

Avascular Necrosis (AVN) is the condition when the bone tissue dies because of insufficient blood supply. It is also called osteonecrosis, ischemic bone necrosis, or aseptic necrosis. If not treated on time, it can lead to bone collapse. Usually, it affects the hip apart from the knees, shoulder, and ankles. When left untreated, it can result in the breaking of bones. A dislocated joint or broken bone can mess with the normal blood flow to a particular area of bone.

It is also associated with excessive alcohol intake and high-dose of steroid medications. Avascular necrosis is most common in adults ageing from 30-50 years or above.

Causes

• Bone fractures
• Steroids
• Idiopathic
• Smoking
• Alcohol abuse
• Joint dislocations
• Auto-immune diseases
• Radiotherapy or chemotherapy

Symptoms

• Pain
• Reduced range of motion

Diagnosis

• X-Rays
• MRI
• CT-Scan
• Bone Scintigraphy

Treatment

Non-surgical Treatments

Medication: Your orthopedic specialist may provide you with NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), cholesterol-lowering drugs, osteoporosis drugs, and blood thinners to control and reduce the pain you experience due to avascular necrosis.

Physical therapy: Your physiotherapist may recommend doing simple movement exercises to balance and improve your joint’s range of motion.

Rest: You must avoid lifting weights for several months ad take proper rest to heal from the unbearable pain.

Electrical stimulation: Electrical currents are passed through the affected joint to promote new bone growth as a replacement.

Surgical Treatments

Bone graft (Bone transplant): Bone grafting is a process that helps strengthen the affected area of the bone by avascular necrosis. The bone transplant is done using a part of healthy bone from your body.

Core decompression: In this process, the orthopedist will remove a section of the inner layer of the bone, reducing the pain and stimulating the production of new blood vessels and healthy bone tissue.

Joint replacement: When nothing works, your damaged bone is replaced by a prosthesis (artificial metal or plastic parts).

Osteotomy: Also called bone reshaping, this process helps in shifting the weight off the affected bone as the surgeon removed a wedge of bone below or above the weight-bearing joint.

Regenerative medicine treatment: It is a new process that can help in the initial stage of avascular necrosis of the hip. In the procedure, the stem cells are taken from the bone marrow, and a core dead hipbone is replaced by the stem cells to help in the growth of a new bone. However, a more detailed study is required to know about its effectiveness.

Treat your avascular necrosis of the hip with the most suitable treatments provided by Dr TDR Reddy. Book an appointment today!