Avascular Necrosis of the Hip

Avascular necrosis of the hip is not a specific disease but a final common pathway of various pathological processes leading to vascular impairment of the femoral head. A number of factors including hip fractures, high dose corticosteroid administration and alcohol abuse have been implicated in the process. Clinical features are nonspecific including pain, restricted range of motion and limping. During the early stages plain radiographs show normal findings and pathologic condition can be detected by other techniques, especially Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Various classification systems have been developed particularly on the basis of radiological progression. Treatment of avascular necrosis is usually surgical, but in the early stages some pharmacological and biophysical methods have shown to be effective in recent studies. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2009; 55 Suppl 1: 26-9.