Avascular Necrosis

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Avascular Necrosis

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What is it?

Avascular necrosis is a serious condition that restricts the blood

supply to certain areas of bone and causes that area of the bone to die.

Bones affected by avascular necrosis can weaken and collapse. The word

avascular (a-VAS-cue-lar) means lacking a blood supply. Necrosis

(ne-CROW-sis) means tissue death.

What causes it?

Avascular necrosis can occur after an injury damages the blood vessels

that supply oxygen to the bone. Avascular necrosis can be caused by

abnormally thick blood, by an inflammation of the blood vessel walls

(vasculitis), or by an obstruction of a blood vessel (an embolism)

caused by a pocket of air or a glob of fat that blocks blood flow.

People who are taking large amounts of steroids can also experience

avascular necrosis. Bones and joins consist of living tissue, and when

the blood supply is blocked this tissue is starved for oxygen and other

nutrients.

Avascular necrosis facts

Avascular necrosis strikes both men and women and affects people of all

ages. It is most common among people in their 30s and 40s.

Diagnosis

If a doctor suspects avascular necrosis, X-rays are usually taken.

However, X-rays can appear normal in the early stages of avascular

necrosis. In those cases, a more effective method of diagnosing

avascular necrosis is an MRI, and in some cases, a bone biopsy.

Medication and Treatment

The treatment of avascular necrosis depends on the stage of the bone

destruction. Early stages can be treated using a procedure called a core

decompression. This procedure removes a core of bone, which allows a new

blood supply to form. Later stages of avascular necrosis require a total

joint replacement.