AVASCULAR NECROSIS

Course overview

OSTEONECROSIS IS A DEGENERATIVE BONE CONDITION CHARACTERIZED BY DEATH OF CELLULAR COMPONENTS OF BONE SECONDARY TO AN INTERRUPTION OF THE SUBCHONDRAL BLOOD SUPPLY. ALSO KNOWN AS AVASCULAR NECROSIS, IT TYPICALLY AFFECTS THE EPIPHYSIS OF LONG BONES AT WEIGHT-BEARING JOINTS. ADVANCED DISEASE MAY RESULT IN SUBCHONDRAL COLLAPSE WHICH THREATENS THE VIABILITY OF THE JOINT INVOLVED. THEREFORE, EARLY RECOGNITION AND TREATMENT OF OSTEONECROSIS ARE ESSENTIAL. THIS ACTIVITY DISCUSSES THE ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS OF THE DISEASE, PRESENTATION AND TREATMENT OPTIONS OF THE MOST COMMON FORMS OF OSTEONECROSIS.