EC Orthopaedics

Osteonecrosis, also known as avascular necrosis (AVN), aseptic necrosis, or ischemic osteonecrosis, is a disease that results in the death of bone cells.

If this process involves the bones near the joint, it often leads to joint surface collapse and then arthritis due to uneven joint surfaces. Although it can occur in any bone, osteonecrosis most often affects the terminal ends (coccyx) of long bones such as the femur. The bones usually involved are the upper part femur (the ball of the hip socket), the lower femur (part of the knee joint), the upper arm (the upper arm bone in relation to the shoulder joint), and the orbital bone shared fish's eyes. The disease can affect only one bone, multiple bones at once, or multiple bones at different times. Orthopedic surgeons usually diagnose the disease using magnetic resonance X-rays (MRI).

The degree of disability from osteonecrosis depends on which part of the bone is affected, how much of the area is involved, how advanced the disease is, and how well the bone heals itself.

Bone rebuilding occurs after an injury as well during normal growth. Normally, bones are constantly broken down and rebuilt - old bone is reabsorbed and replaced with new bone. This process keeps the skeleton strong and helps it maintain a balance of minerals. With osteosarcoma, the healing process is often ineffective and bone tissues are broken down faster than the body can repair them. If left untreated, the disease progresses and the bones can crack, so the bones can be compressed (collapsed) together (similar to compressing a snowball). If this occurs at the end of the bone, it leads to uneven joint surfaces, joint pain, and loss of function of the affected areas.

Keywords: Pediatric Osteonecrosis; Legg-Calve-Perthes; Osgood Schlatter; Kohler's Disease; Avascular Necrosis (AVN)

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