What is Avascular Necrosis?

What is Avascular Necrosis?

Avascular necrosis is a condition that occurs when there is a loss of blood to the bone. Avascular is defined as an interruption of blood supply and necrosis is the death of a bone, organ or tissue due to a loss of blood supply. Blood carries essential nutrients and oxygen to the bone and when this is interrupted the bone can collapse.

Avascular necrosis that occurs in childhood can be characterised as idiopathic or traumatic. Idiopathic is characterised as a disease which causes repeated infractions which can slow down a healing process, traumatic may be caused by direct trauma to the femoral head which interrupts the blood supply. Exposure to radiation or chemotherapy can also cause avascular necrosis to occur.

Avascular necrosis is most common in the upper leg and the femur bone which is the bone that connect to the hip joint.

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