Bones are living tissues. They provide shape and support to the body, protection to internal organs, and store vital minerals. Bones require a continuous blood supply to stay alive. Certain joints of the body, including the hip, have blood vessels that supply blood. When this blood supply is interrupted, it usually results in a condition known as Avascular Necrosis.
The hip joint consists of the hip socket (acetabulum) that surrounds the ball of the upper thighbone. The thighbone is called the femur, and the ball on the end is the femoral head.
The hip joint receives blood supply from the medial femoral circumflex artery (MFCA). This artery further branches into smaller arteries and is the main blood supply to the femoral head. Damage to the blood supply can lead to the death of the femoral head or avascular necrosis of the hip.
When AVN occurs in the hip joint, the top of the femoral head collapses and begins to flatten. Due to this, the femoral head no longer fits perfectly inside the socket and leads to severe hip bone pain.
Common causes of AVN include:
The patients diagnosed with AVN often suffer from:
The early stages of AVN are often painless and asymptomatic. However, as the disease progresses, the pain becomes more evident.
The diagnosis of AVN involves a physical examination and diagnostic imaging techniques. During a physical examination, doctors check for any swelling or tenderness and the movement of the joint.
The common diagnostic imaging techniques used for the detection of AVN are X-rays, MRI, and bone scans.
The treatment goal for patients diagnosed with AVN is to prevent further bone loss. In the early stages of Avascular Necrosis, the doctors may recommend the following treatment:
The non-surgical treatment options include NSAIDs, lipid-lowering drugs, blood thinners, exercises, electrical stimulation.
The surgical treatment options for AVN include core decompression, bone grafting, bone reshaping, total hip arthroplasty, regenerative medicine.
OSSGROW® by Regrow Biosciences offers a permanent cure to AVN. It halts the progression of AVN and restores mobility. It uses the patients' own cells (autologous) as a therapeutic tool.
If you are suffering from persistent hip bone pain and need an expert opinion on your hip pain, consult our orthopedic doctor today.
Our doctors from AVN Clinics are here to help you and provide you with the necessary care for your ailment.