Bone tissue death is medically called avascular necrosis - the disease is also known as osteonecrosis.
Small fractures or complete collapse of the bone may develop due to avascular necrosis.
Due to a broken bone or against the background of changing the location of the joint, the ability of blood circulation in the bone segment is disturbed (the normal process of blood supply is disturbed).
No one is immune from the disease, although the diagnosis is especially common in people aged 30 to 50 years.
Diagnosing
During the physical examination, the doctor will palpate the joint and assess the condition.
You may be instructed to move the joint into different positions to determine if the range of motion has decreased.
Joint pain is a symptom of many pathologies, therefore, the underlying cause should be determined by these diagnostic methods:
- X-ray study;
- Magnetic resonance imaging and computer tomography;
- Bone scan.
Treatment
The main goal of the treatment course is the prevention of bone loss.
In the early stages of avascular necrosis, treatment with appropriate drugs is effective.
In some clinical cases, the patient is advised to rest, to limit physical activity to a minimum, so that there is no additional pressure on the bone, that is, it is not damaged anymore.
Sometimes, physical therapy is prescribed to improve joint mobility.
Keep in mind, in many people, this pathology is asymptomatic, and signs appear only when the disease progresses.
The surgeon may consider the following types of surgical intervention necessary:
- Decompression of necrotic tissue;
- Bone transplantation;
- Osteotomy;
- Joint replacement.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/avascular-necrosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369863
