| Category | Orthopaedic Care |
What is Avascular Necrosis (AVN)?
In AVN of the hip joint, the top of the femoral head (the ball portion) collapses and begins to flatten. The flattening creates a situation where the ball no longer fits perfectly inside the socket. This leads to osteoarthritis of the hip joint, and pain.
There are many causes of AVN. Anything that damages the blood supply to the hip can cause AVN.
Injury to the hip itself due to multiple fractures around the hip, corticosteroids, smoking, alcohol, and metabolic causes are some of the major causes which lead to an increased incidence of AVN.
The first symptom of AVN is a pain when weight is placed on the hip. The pain can be felt in the groin area, buttock area, and along the front portion of the thigh. As the problem progresses, the symptoms include the development of a limp when walking and stiffness in the hip joint. Eventually, the pain may also be present at rest and may even interfere with sleep.
The diagnosis of AVN begins with a history and physical examination. Once this is done, an X-ray will most likely be ordered. An X-ray will usually show AVN if it has been present for long enough. If the X-rays fail to show AVN, the MRI scan is probably the most common test used to look for AVN in the hip.
The treatment choices are determined by how far along the problem is and your symptoms. Other factors that guide treatment decisions include your age, activity level, general health (and any specific health problems present), and life expectancy.
