Disease Information for Bone necrosis/infarct/osteonecrosis

Osteonecrosis; Aseptic Necrosis; Avascular Necrosis of Bone

Ischemic Necrosis of Bone; Osteonecrosis is the destruction (necrosis) of bone tissue, often due to an interference with the supply of blood to the bone; It most commonly affects the joints and bones of the hips, knees and/or shoulders; It may occur as a result of bone injuries (trauma-related osteonecrosis) or in conjunction with other diseases or risk factors (nontraumatic osteonecrosis); Risk factors include excessive alcohol intake, some blood coagulation disorders, inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and reactions to some medications such as steroids ; [NORD 2005]------------------------------Aseptic necrosis (also referred to as avascular necrosis or osteonecrosis) is a condition that results from poor blood supply to an area of bone causing bone death; This is a serious condition because the dead areas of bone do not function normally, are weakened, and can collapse; causes aseptic necrosis?

Aseptic necrosis can be caused by trauma and damage to the blood vessels that supply bone its oxygen; Other causes of poor blood circulation to the bone include an embolism of air or fat that blocks the blood flow through the blood vessels, abnormally thick blood (hypercoaguable state), and inflammation of the blood vessel walls (vasculitis);

What conditions are associated with aseptic necrosis?

Conditions that are associated with aseptic necrosis include alcoholism, steroid usage, Cushing"s syndrome, radiation exposure, sickle cell disease, pancreatitis, Gaucher"s disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

The diagnosis of aseptic necrosis can be made with x-rays, but this is a later stage finding; Earlier signs of avascular necrosis can be detected with MRI scanning or suggested by nuclear bone scanning;

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