Aseptic Necrosis of the Hip
(Osteonecrosis; Avascular Necrosis; Ischemic Necrosis; Osteochondritis Dissecans)
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Definition
Aseptic necrosis of the hip is the death of bone tissue in the head of the femur due to an inadequate blood supply.
Certain bones have a fragile blood supply. The head of the femur in the hip joint is the most likely to suffer loss of blood supply. This can cause tissue death.
Causes
Any event or condition that damages the arteries that feed the head of the femur raises the risk of aseptic necrosis. The most common events are fractures in the upper femur and dislocations of the hip, especially developmental dysplasia of the hip. Other causes reduce the blood supply by closing off or compressing the blood vessels.
There is a specific type of aseptic necrosis of the hip called Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease that affects the growth plate at the upper end of the femur in children. It most commonly affects boys aged 5-10 years old.