  | Hip OsteonecrosisHip necrosis, also called osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis, is a painful condition in which lack of proper blood flow to the head of the femur results in osteocytes and the bone marrow dying. This weakens the bone and can lead to a collapse of the femur head and eventual arthritis as the surface of the femur head (articular cartilage) changes shape.  The teres ligament connects the top of the femoral head to the tissue inside the acetabular joint and contains a small artery that supplies blood to the femoral head. The lateral and medial circumflex femoral arteries branch off the femoral artery and supply the femoral head with the majority of its blood supply. The femoral artery is a large blood supplier that starts in the pelvis and travels down the leg to the inside of the knee. If the blood supply is not steady enough to keep the femoral head healthy, osteonecrosis can set in. Blood supply to the femoral head may be affected if there is a fracture in the neck of the femoral neck or a tear in the teres ligament Symptoms of Hip OsteonecrosisA patient suffering from hip osteonecrosis will typically exhibit one or more of the following symptoms..
To make a diagnosis, your doctor may take an x-ray to rule out a fracture (as this is often the cause of limited blood flow to the femoral head). An MRI will be the best tool to determine the state of the cartilage and other soft tissue in the hip joint. A bone scan or CT scan could also be used to help with the diagnosis.
Causes and Risks of Hip OsteonecrosisTrauma to the hip joint (i.e. fracture or dislocation) can interrupt the flow of blood to the femoral head, leading to osteonecrosis. In some cases, osteonecrosis can occur with no obvious reason, however, some conditions and indicators appear to put some people at greater risk:
Hip Osteonecrosis - What Can Be Done to Treat it?Diagnosing osteonecrosis early will allow for the cause of the limited blood flow to be corrected and treated, reducing the amount of bone damage done. For any chronic condition that may cause hip necrosis or once the arteries are repaired, improving blood flow to the hip joint is essential to prevent any further bone marrow from dying and improving the health of the hip joint. Surgical Treatments There are two surgical treatments for the early stages of osteonecrosis. The first is hip decompression where they drill holes in the area of the hip osteonecrosis to help relieve the pressure on the femoral head. The other treatment is to do a vascularized bone graft. In this procedure, healthy bone and blood vessels are taken from another part of the leg and moved to the area affected by osteonecrosis. If the osteonecrosis has progressed into later stages, treatment is typically limited to either (1) a total hip replacement or (2) a hip resurfacing surgery . The goal of a hip replacement is to restore function and mobility to the hip with artificial parts. This is a good option, as it solves the problem long term and most people with artificial hips live active, healthy lives after their surgery. Treating a Osteonecrosis of the HipMuch like a hip fracture or a hip dislocation, hip osteonecrosis is a serious medical emergency! Immediate treatment is necessary, so get to the hospital quickly. With a osteonecrosis, it is pretty much a given that you will be undergoing surgery. Significant secondary damage will probably have occurred from the fracture, including complications to nearby nerves, blood vessels and protective cartilage in the joint. Most probably, the ligaments surrounding the hip joint will have been damaged - perhaps strained or even ruptured. All of these issues will determine the length of your rehabilitation. In some cases, damage to blood vessels near the hip joint can cause a loss of blood supply to the bone - this is known as osteonecrosis.
In nearly all cases of recovery, your physician, physical therapist or surgeon will recommend a treatment recovery plan for you that will include Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Stretching - basically an outline of conservative treatments. Protocols used in recovery from a hip fracture basically the same protocols found in hip post surgery recovery. To view more information about post operative recovery/rehabilitation of the hip, click here. We've helped thousands of people treat their painful injuries and conditions to get them back on the road to a pain-free life! Click HERE to Go To Our Online Store We take all major credit cards and Paypal. Our customer service lines are open 5 days a week helping people understand their injuries and how to treat them. Simply call toll free 1-866-237-9608 to talk or place an order with one of our knowledgeable Product Advisers. They have the ability to answer questions and even put together a treatment plan for you. Product specialists are available 9:00 am to 10:00 pm Eastern Standard Time Monday, Tuesday and between 9:00 am and 5:00pm on Wednesday to Friday. If any question or concern arises, call us or simply send us an email at any time (we check our emails constantly all throughout the day and night.. even on holidays!). We will respond as soon as possible. North America Toll Free 1-866-237-9608 |
Hip Injury Facts: Over 90% of hip fractures are caused by falling, most frequently on the side of the hip. Less than 50% of hip fracture patients return to their former level of activity. Proper treatment is important to maintain strength and range of motion. Hip alignment affects the pressure put on the knees. A hip disorder can aggravate knee pain and vice versa. 1 in 7 Americans, over the age of 60, reports significant hip pain. In most cases, arthritis pain will not benefit from a hip arthroscopy. 70% of non-fracture hip replacements in 2003-2004 were to treat osteoarthritis.        |