How Fast Does Avascular Necrosis Progress?
According to our orthopaedic surgeon There are many conditions that affect our joints and bones, especially as we age. One such condition, Avascular Necrosis or AVN, often affects people aged between 50 and 70 although it can develop at any age and has even been diagnosed in children. Between 40-80% of patients diagnosed will experience AVN in both hips.
If you've been diagnosed with AVN, you'll probably want to know how quickly avascular necrosis develops, what treatments may be offered and what your outcomes are. We take a look at Avascular Necrosis, what it is, how fast it's likely to develop and the treatments available.
What is Avascular Necrosis?
Before we go on to explain the different stages of AVN, let's explain what it is. Also known as osteonecrosis, AVN occurs as a result of a disruption to the blood supply to the femoral head in the hip joint that causes arthritis to develop quickly. When the blood supply is disrupted to an area, the bone cells die, and the bone and joint surface are damaged. This damage is irreversible and causes pain, stiffness and loss of function in the hip. While avascular necrosis is not life-threatening, it is extremely debilitating.
How Does AVN Develop?
The reasons for this loss of blood supply are usually unknown but several risk factors are associated with developing AVN.
- A traumatic hip injury such as a fracture or dislocation
- Excessive, long-term alcohol consumption
- Some steroid medications and chemotherapy drugs
- Medical conditions, including certain blood disorders and metabolic conditions.
In the early stages of Avascular Necrosis, you may not experience any symptoms. However, as AVN progresses, you're likely to feel some pain. This usually starts in the groin area, radiating into the thigh or buttock. AVN develops in stages, so as the damage progresses, the pain will become more severe, ultimately leading to constant pain and restricted movement affecting your ability to carry out a range of activities.
How is Avascular Necrosis Diagnosed?
How is Avascular Necrosis Diagnosed?
Diagnosing AVN can often prove difficult, especially as in the early days you may not experience any symptoms. However, AVN is usually diagnosed by an X-ray or scan. An MRI scan is the best way to diagnose AVN as it can pick up both very early stage and advanced AVN and will show how much bone has been affected. The earlier AVN is diagnosed, the better the potential outcome.
How Fast Does Avascular Necrosis Progress?
Unlike osteoarthritis of the hip which generally develops slowly over many years, the different stages of AVN progress fairly quickly. There is no definitive answer to 'how fast does avascular necrosis progress'; it could take 12-18 months, or it could develop much more rapidly over a few months.
Hip pain is usually the first indicator of AVN. However, AVN has four stages.
- A healthy hip with no symptoms.
- Mild pain arising from the deterioration of the femur head.
- Difficulty in standing and bearing weight on the hip, combined with painful joint movement - this is indicative of the early collapse of the ball of the hip.
- Full collapse of the femoral head and hip arthritis.
What are the Treatments for Avascular Necrosis?
This very much depends on the stage of AVN and how much bone is affected. Many patients with AVN will require some form of surgery. Surgical procedures include core decompression or a total hip replacement. In the initial stages, you may be offered painkillers and anti-inflammatories such as paracetamol and ibuprofen to relieve the symptoms and crutches to take the weight off the affected hip and allow the bone to heal.
If the AVN is in an early stage, core depression may be used to drill one large or several small holes into the affected area to relieve bone pressure. This also creates channels to accommodate the growth of new blood vessels and resupply the area with blood. However, this is not always successful.
For the majority of AVN patients, a total hip replacement will be offered to remove the ball and socket of the hip joint and replace it with an artificial implant. This treatment has a very good outcome and in many cases can result in restoration of movement, improvements in walking and other activities and pain relief. Recovery from a total hip replacement will take around 8 weeks. As previously stated, many patients experience AVN in both hips, so both hips may need to be replaced.
Consult Avascular Necrosis with Victorian Bone & Joint Specialists
The consultants at Victorian Bone & Joint Specialists offer diagnosis and treatment for a range of orthopaedic conditions, including avascular necrosis surgery, hip dysplasia, robotic hip replacement, hip arthroscopy, and more. We offer cutting-edge surgical techniques combined with patient-centric care to ensure the best possible outcomes. To book an appointment with one of our consultants, please call us on (03) 5752 5020 or complete our online contact form. We're conveniently located at 55 Victoria Parade in Fitzroy, Melbourne.