Medical conditions associated with avascular necrosis include:

• Sickle cell anemia
• Certain types of cancer, such as leukemia pancreatitis
• Gaucher’s disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Systemic lupus erythematous

What is AVN?

When blood flow to bone is reduced, there is a death of bone tissue, and it can lead to tiny breaks in the bone and it collapses. This process usually takes few months to years. Any person can be affected. But it is seen mostly between the ages of 30 to 50.

Symptoms:

• In the early stages, some people have no symptoms. As disease progresses pain can feels with weight bearing activities. Patient perceives pain in the groin area, buttock and thigh. Some patients develop avascular necrosis in both sides.
• Rigidity and stiffness in hip joint
• Walking difficult or limping gait

Risk factor:

Trauma or injury to hip:

Having several alcoholic drinks a day for several years also can cause fatty deposits to form in blood vessels.

Steroid:

Use of high-dose corticosteroids, such as prednisone induces AVN. The exact reason is unknown , but some experts believe that corticosteroids can increase lipid levels in the blood, reducing blood flow.

Cancer treatments:

Using high dose medications for Multiple myeloma and metastatic breast cancer.

Certain medical treatments :

Using biphosphonates to enhances bone density also increases risk.

Radiation therapy for cancer can weaken bone. Organ transplants, especially kidney transplants,also increases risk.

Pain management therapy in Hip Pain:

Core decompression :

In early stage of osteonecrosis, it is very helpful. Cure rate is 63%.

PRP Therapy

It halts the diseases and relieve pain.

Use of PRP along with core decompression, to accelerate recovery rate.

It reduces the risk of progression to collapse of hip joint.

Percutaneous Radio-Frequency Hip Joint Denervation:

In some patients, it is not convenient to do Total Hip Replacement ( THR ), because of co-morbidities, that increase the risk of post-operative complications, and unfitness to do this aggressive surgical intervention.

In these cases, Percutaneous partial hip joint sensory denervation has become a notable option as it provide acceptable rates of Pain relief.

THA ( Total Hip Arthroplasty )

THA is indicated when the pain is chronic and the reduced mobility persists despite all conservative measure

Complications: If  left untreated, micro-fracture or collapse of hip can occurs.

Prevention:

To reduce the risk of avascular necrosis and improve general health well being

• Stop or Limit alcohol.
• Brings down cholesterol levels low. Tiny bits of fat are the most common substance blocking blood supply to bones.
• Monitor steroid use. Make sure your physician knows about your past or present use of high-dose steroids. Steroid-related bone damage appears to worsen with repeated courses of high-dose steroids.
• Quit  Smoking narrows blood vessels, which can reduce blood flow.