No one wants to experience injuries or any other health conditions but sometimes they are either unavoidable or occur due to unexpected sudden causes. 

In this post, our focus will be on discussing one of the orthopedic conditions that could either occur due to trauma or as a result of certain non-traumatic conditions. We are talking about avascular necrosis, a condition that occurs due to the lack of blood supply to the bone. Joint replacement surgery might be necessary in the most critical instances.

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There could be multiple causes of the condition and based on that the severity can be defined. Let us talk deeply about the condition.

Osteonecrosis – An Overview

Osteonecrosis, also called avascular necrosis, is a bone disease that occurs when the bone’s blood supply is interrupted. When this occurs, the bone starts to become weak and it eventually breaks. In certain cases, a complete bone collapse is experienced. 

The interruption of blood supply may be due to a fracture or dislocation of a bone. Besides this, long-term steroid use and excessive alcohol intake may also contribute to avascular necrosis. Let us have a look at its causes.

What Are the Causes of Osteonecrosis?

As also discussed above, osteonecrosis can be of two types:

• Traumatic
• Non-traumatic

When it comes to traumatic osteonecrosis, occurs due to a fracture or bone dislocation. In these situations, the blood supply to the bone is interrupted, which causes the development of tiny cracks. As the condition progresses, a complete bone collapse may also be experienced. 

Another type of osteonecrosis is non-traumatic osteonecrosis which occurs as a result of conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes, organ transplants, cancer treatments like radiation therapy, sickle cell anemia, and HIV. 

What Are the Symptoms of Osteonecrosis?

In the early stages of osteonecrosis, no symptoms may be experienced. As the condition progresses to higher stages, symptoms may start to show up. Symptoms that may develop include:

• Intermittent pain is experienced when pressure is applied to the affected joint
• Stiffness of joint and increasing pain
• Reduced and limited range of motion
• Limping if the condition has affected hips or knees
• Difficulty while walking, climbing stairs, or standing

How is Osteonecrosis Diagnosed?

Physical examination is always the first step during the diagnosis of the condition where the healthcare service provider presses the joint and looks for tenderness. Besides this, the range of motion of the affected joint will also be checked to notice the limitations. 

Certain imaging tests are also required to confirm the condition, and they may include:

• X-ray
• MRI
• CT scan
• Bone scan

What is the Treatment for Osteonecrosis?

The treatment of the condition depends upon its severity and the location of the joint affected. In most cases, the healthcare service provider starts with non-surgical methods. They include:

• Prescribed NSAIDs to curb pain
• Osteoporosis drugs
• Cholesterol-lowering medicines
• Blood-thinning-agents
• Rest
• Physical therapy to improve the range of motion
• Electrical stimulation

In some cases, people experience symptoms in the advanced stages of avascular necrosis. In such cases, surgical intervention is recommended. Surgical options that may be considered include:

• Bone transplant
• Core decompression
• Osteotomy (bone reshaping)
• Joint replacement
• Regenerative medicine treatment

Siora Surgicals Pvt. Ltd., a leading trauma implants manufacturer in India with a 30-year legacy, supplies its products to over 130 national and international distributors and orthopedic surgeons. The CE-certified range of implants produced by the company is also exported to other countries, and to stretch its international market presence, Siora is looking to become one of the best Orthopedic Device Manufacturers in USA.