Osteonecrosis of the hip is a painful condition caused by the disruption of blood flow to the femoral head. This lack of blood supply leads to the deterioration of the hip joint.
The symptoms associated with hip osteonecrosis are similar to those associated with other degenerative conditions of the hip joint.
These include pain in the groin, which may radiate to the buttock, thigh and knee, stiffness in the joint, and a reduced overall range of motion that can significantly negatively impact the ability to carry out normal daily tasks.
Although osteonecrosis is ultimately the result of inadequate blood flow to the head of the femur, the conditions which may result in this inadequacy are very varied, and can include:
Other factors known to contribute to the development of osteonecrosis include radiation therapy, which can damage bone and blood vessels.
Non-surgical treatments are typically most effect in the very early stages of the disease before the bone structure has collapsed. These interventions are targeted toward reducing pain, improving blood flow to the hip and optimising joint function, and include:
Other interventions can target lifestyle factors which may inhibit blood flow and healing, such as smoking and vaping.
There are a number of surgical interventions which are commonly used to treat osteonecrosis of the hip. These include:
Core decompression: this involves drilling small holes into the femoral head to relieve pressure inside the bone, improve blood flow and stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, and optimise bone regeneration.
Bone grafting: this involves the replacement of dead bone with new healthy bone. This new bone may be taken from a patient’s own body (known as an autograft) or from a donor (an allograft). Synthetic grafts may also be used.
Today, there are also various synthetic bone grafts available, expanding the choices available for patients. Additionally, some procedures involve the blending of bone marrow cells with the graft material, aiding the process of bone regeneration.
Osteotomy: this involves the cutting and modification of the femoral head or femoral nexk to redistribute the force through the hip to a healthy part of the joint.
Hip resurfacing: involves removal of the damaged surface of the femoral head and the addition to it of a metal cap. The hip socket may also be fitted with a metal cup.
Total hip arthroplasty (total hip replacement): involves surgical removal of the damaged femoral head and hip socket and their replacement with artificial prostheses.
To learn more about the hip replacement procedure, and what you can expect from it, please visit our Hip Replacement page.
For further inquiries or to arrange a consultation, please contact Professor Al Muderis’ office at +61 2 88829011 or book an appointment online.