J Korean Orthop Assoc.  1975 Jun;10(2):156-166. 10.4055/jkoa.1975.10.2.156.

Idiopathic Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head in Adults

• Kim YM
• Chang JK

• KMID: 2471388
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.1975.10.2.156

Abstract

Fifteen patients with idiopathic avascular necrosis of the femoral head who were admitted and treated in Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital between January of 1965 and April of 1975 are investigated in terms of the history, clinical data and laboratory examinations. Seven of 15 patients have suffered from one or more preexisting diseases and seven of them have had steroid therapy or taking phenylbutazone. Two of 15 patients who developed idiopathic avascular necrosis of the femoral head in their early age(the late second decade) had dysplastic hip which could make high pressure in the hip joint while bearing body weight. Most of pathology slides showed osteoporotic change in the affected femoral head. And twelve of 15 patients show more of Jess osteoporosis in the roentgenograms. Particularly. X-ray films of all patients exhibited that the weight bearing portion of the femoral head the antero-superior portion of the femoral head) underwent ischemic change initially. In addition, six of 15 patients had a history of trauma to the hip region. Therefore, it is our conclusion that minor trauma which is usually not able to make any fracture or dislocation, or vascular injury of the hip joint could make micro-fracture or injury to blood vessels to the weight bearing portion of the femoral head, resulting avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Blood Vessels
Body Weight
Dislocations
Head*
Hip
Hip Joint
Humans
Necrosis*
Orthopedics
Osteoporosis
Pathology
Phenylbutazone
Preexisting Condition Coverage
Seoul
Vascular System Injuries
Weight-Bearing
X-Ray Film
Phenylbutazone