| Osteonecrosis is a condition due arising from | | | | replacement can still be done at a later |
| a diminution of blood supply to bone. It | | | | date.Treatment in the early stages is |
| affects most importantly the upper end of the | | | | controversial and there are no clear |
| femur. If left untreated it progresses to | | | | guidleines.Prolonged bedrest and crutch |
| bony collapse and arthritis. The causes are | | | | walking have not been shown to relieve pain |
| many like alcohol abuse, steroid intake, | | | | or halt progression of the disease. |
| Caisson's disease, Gaucher's disease.The | | | | |
| patient can experience sudden pain in the | | | | Core decompression does ameliorate symptoms. |
| hips which radiates to the knee and can be | | | | It is minimally invasive and does not involve |
| confused for knee pain.Gait is painful. | | | | a replacement. If it fails then a replacement |
| | | | is possible at a later date. |
| In early cases, x- rays are negative and MR | | | | |
| scans are diagnostic.Treatment in Late | | | | Vascularised fiblar graft is done with the |
| casesTreatment in late cases is by an Hip | | | | help of a microvascular surgeon.The author |
| replacement either total if bony destruction | | | | trained with eminent Hip experts in |
| is extensive. A partial or total surface hip | | | | Cambridge, Manchester and Livepool. He |
| replacement is done if destruction is | | | | performs Hip replacements, Hip resurfacing, |
| confined to the surface cartilage alone. | | | | Osteotomies, Fracture fixation, Core |
| Since it occurs in young individuals, a | | | | decompression, Birmingham replacements at |
| Surface Hip replacement is a better option as | | | | Venkataeswara hospital. |
| it conserves bony stock and a total hip | | | | |