Prof. Dr. Fatih Karaaslan from the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at Memorial Kayseri Hospital said that hip avascular necrosis (AVN), which is not well known among the public and progresses insidiously, can lead to serious health problems. Karaaslan said, “This problem occurs when bone tissue dies as a result of decreased or complete cessation of blood flow in the hip joint. When treatment is delayed, it can cause irreversible damage such as collapse of the joint surface, severe pain and complete dysfunction of the hip joint in the last stage.”
“The pain can become increasingly severe”
Stating that mobility may worsen over time with the aggravation of pain in the hip, Karaaslan said, “Avascular necrosis is usually triggered by trauma or long-term use of drugs such as cortisone. The hip joint is one of the largest load-bearing joints in our body and stagnation of blood flow causes serious problems in this area. The femoral head, also known as the femoral head bone, is the most affected area. As a result of the blood flow stoppage, the bone tissue in this area cannot be nourished and gradually dies. This process is often insidious. Patients initially experience mild discomfort or pain. Over time, these pains intensify and mobility is restricted.”
“Symptoms should not be underestimated”
Prof. Dr. Fatih Karaaslan said that symptoms that start with pain should not be underestimated, “The biggest danger in terms of hip avascular necrosis is that most patients initially underestimate the symptoms. The pain increases as the load on the joint increases, but many people associate this with fatigue or other reasons and postpone going to the doctor. However, when diagnosed early, the treatment of this disease can be much easier and more effective. While this disease detected in the early stages can be managed with non-surgical treatment methods, surgical intervention becomes inevitable in advanced cases.”
Stating that the treatment of the disease can be surgical and non-surgical, Karaaslan said, “There are two basic approaches in the treatment of hip avascular necrosis: non-surgical and surgical treatment methods. Significant developments have been made in the medical field in recent years in the treatment of this disease in terms of non-surgical medical treatment methods. Especially stem cell therapy offers promising results in the early stages of the disease. Stem cells can help repair damaged bone tissue and restore blood flow. In addition, treatment protocols with biological agents and bone-strengthening drugs are among the effective strategies to stop the progression of the disease. Surgical treatment methods; Core decompression, that is, the process in which the pressure is reduced by drilling small holes in the femoral head and blood flow is encouraged. This method is very effective in the early stages of the disease. In osteotomy, the position of the joint is changed by incisions made in the bone and more load is placed on healthy bone tissue.
Hip replacement is the only solution when the disease progresses and the joint completely loses its function. In this procedure, the damaged joint is removed and replaced with an artificial joint. This is a condition that is under-recognized but can seriously reduce quality of life if left untreated. With early diagnosis and the right treatment methods, the negative effects of this insidious disease can be minimized. It should not be forgotten that in case of any hip pain, consulting a specialist without wasting time can change the course of the disease.”
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