International Orthopaedics

, Volume 37, Issue 3, pp 379–384 | Cite as

The natural history of asymptomatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head

  • Joon Soon Kang
  • Kyoung Ho Moon
  • Dae Gyu Kwon
  • Byung Ki Shin
  • Min Su Woo
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

Purpose

To observe the natural history of asymptomatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and to analyse the associations between the subsequent development of symptoms, epidemiological risk factors and the character of the lesions.

Methods

Sixty-eight patients were diagnosed with asymptomatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The patients were classified based on the development of symptoms. Relations were sought between symptom development and epidemiological risk factors, and the size and location of the necrotic lesions.

Results

Thirty-eight patients developed symptoms (55.9 %) at a mean 2.27 years after diagnosis. Symptoms developed in 18 of 28 patients with alcohol-related necrosis (64.3 %), in eight of 14 patients with steroid-related necrosis (57.1 %), and in 12 of 26 patients with idiopathic necrosis (46.2 %). None of the following: gender, age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, or cholesterol level, was found to be significantly associated with the development of symtoms in asymptomatic osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH). Duration and amount of exposure to steroid were not significantly associated with symptom development. In the groups of heavy alcohol drinkers, large necrotic lesions and laterally located lesions showed a higher prevalence of symptom development.

Conclusion

Symptoms developed in 55.9 % of asymptomatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Prevalence of symptom development was significantly higher in heavy alcohol drinkers and large-sized lateral lesions.

Keywords

Femoral Head Necrotic Lesion Symptom Development Steroid Administration Core Decompression 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Notes

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Inha University.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Joon Soon Kang
    • 1
  • Kyoung Ho Moon
    • 1
  • Dae Gyu Kwon
    • 1
  • Byung Ki Shin
    • 1
  • Min Su Woo
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Orthopedic SurgeryInha University HospitalIncheonSouth Korea

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