Everything You Need to Know About Avascular Necrosis
Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a painful condition that occurs due to
the loss of blood supply to the bone, causing the bone tissue to die. It mainly
affects the hip joint but can also affect the knees, shoulders, and ankles. If
not treated, it may result in bone collapse.
If you are experiencing persistent pain in your bone, especially
when you put pressure on it, then get it checked by Dr. Vinay Goyal. He is one
of the best orthopedic surgeon in
Jaipur who excels in treating the musculoskeletal system. He
specializes in joint replacement and
reconstruction surgeries, such as hip replacement, knee replacement, etc.
What are the causes of avascular necrosis?
Avascular necrosis mainly affects people in the age group of 20 to
50 years. This condition usually develops due to an injury or underlying health
condition, such as:
- Fracture
- Dislocation
- Long-term
use of steroid drugs
- Medical
treatments like radiation therapy for cancer, organ transplant, etc.
- Excessive
alcohol consumption
- Inflammation,
blood clots, or damage to the arteries can block the blood supply to your
bones
- Certain
chronic diseases including diabetes, HIV, osteoporosis, lupus, and sickle
cell anemia
What are the symptoms of avascular necrosis?
In the starting stage, there are no symptoms of avascular
necrosis. It may take weeks or months before you notice any symptoms. Some of
the common signs that indicate avascular necrosis are:
- Minimal
pain in the joint, especially when you put pressure on the bone
- Increasing
joint pain and stiffness
- Limping
if the knee or hip joint is affected
- Limited
range of motion
- Difficulty
in walking, standing, or climbing stairs
If the joint collapses, you will be in excruciating pain, due to
which you will not be able to use your joint.
As most of the symptoms are similar to other bone issues, you must
get a proper diagnosis. Dr. Vinay Goyal, a highly qualified orthopedic doctor
in Jaipur, recommends people with bone pain to consult a doctor at the earliest
to prevent complications and get timely treatment.
How is avascular necrosis diagnosed?
When you go for diagnosis, the doctor will conduct a physical
exam, checking for tender spots by pressing your joints. He will also move your
joints in different positions to see the range of motion. Further, he may ask
you to undergo a few tests to find the root cause of your pain:
- X-rays
- CT
scan and MRI
- Bone
scan
What are the treatment options for avascular
necrosis?
The doctor will focus on easing the pain, improving the joint, and
stopping further bone damage. Your treatment will depend on various factors,
such as:
- Cause
of avascular necrosis
- Stage
of the condition
- Location
of the affected bone
- Degree
of bone damage
- Your
age
If the condition is detected early, your treatment will include
taking medications and minimizing the use of the affected area.
You may have to use crutches if your hip, ankle, or knee is
affected to avoid putting weight on the damaged joint. Your doctor may ask you
to exercise to keep your joints mobile.
Medications
If there is an underlying cause for your avascular necrosis, your
doctor may prescribe medications to manage and treat it. They include:
NSAIDs:
They help ease the pain
Blood thinners:
If the cause of avascular necrosis is blood clots, then blood
thinners are prescribed.
Cholesterol drugs:
These medicines help reduce the cholesterol level and fat in your
blood, thereby preventing blockages that can result in avascular necrosis.
Surgery
Dr. Vinay Goyal, a leading orthopedic surgeon in Jaipur, explains
that though nonsurgical treatments help slow down avascular necrosis, most
patients need surgery over time.
Different types of surgical options are:
Osteotomy:
This procedure involves removing and realigning the bone to
relieve the pressure on the joint or bone.
Bone grafts:
The surgeon replaces the damaged bone with a healthy bone from
another body part.
Core decompression:
The surgeon removes the inside part of the bone to ease the
pressure and help new blood vessels to develop.
Total
joint replacement:
In this procedure, the surgeon will remove the damaged joint and
replace it with an artificial joint.
Vascularized bone graft:
Your own tissue is used to rebuild your damaged or diseased hip
joints. The surgeon replaces the damaged joint with a bone having rich blood
vessels, such as the fibula, from your lower leg.
Electrical stimulation:
Your surgeon may use electrical stimulation during the surgery to
promote bone growth.
Ways in which you can prevent avascular
necrosis.
You can lower the risk for avascular necrosis by:
- Limiting
alcohol consumption
- Stop
smoking
- Not
overusing steroids
- Keeping cholesterol
levels under control
How can you care for avascular necrosis at
home?
Rest:
Avoid putting pressure on your damaged joint by reducing your
physical activities or using crutches for some months. It will slow down the
damage.
Exercise:
You can take the help of a physical therapist to learn exercises
that will help you get back the range of motion in your joint.
Are post-COVID patients more susceptible to
avascular necrosis?
It has been observed that many post-Covid-19 patients are
complaining of joint pain and are being diagnosed with avascular necrosis.
Heavy doses of steroids were given to COVID patients to save their
lives. One of the side effects of steroids is bone weakness or bone
death.
Excessive and prolonged use of steroids during COVID treatment has
made patients more susceptible to avascular necrosis.
Another reason for AVN is intravascular blood clots in Covid-19
patients that disrupt the blood flow, causing bone death.
Hence, you should show a doctor soon if you have hip or thigh
pain.
Conclusion
Avascular necrosis is a progressive condition that can cause bone
collapse if not treated. If you need added information or want to know how to
manage avascular necrosis, you should consult one of the best orthopedic doctor in Jaipur, Dr.
Vinay Goyal. He specializes in arthroscopy, arthroplasty, and joint
replacement.
so informative blog
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