Reconstructive surgery
AVASCULAR BONE NECROSIS – SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF PAINFUL NECROSIS
Sharp pain in bones and joints can have a wide variety of causes. One of the most severe and serious is bone necrosis. Doctors refer to avascular bone necrosis (AVN) as the death of a bone segment caused by a circulatory disorder. The disease, also known as osteonecrosis, can be triggered either by injury or spontaneously. The hips are very often affected by avascular bone necrosis. However, it also occurs in the shoulders, hands and feet. Men between the ages of 30 and 60 in particular usually suffer from this disease.
If left untreated, avascular bone necrosis becomes almost unbearable in the long term. This is because the affected bones and/or joints are increasingly poorly supplied with blood. This leads to disorders in the bone structure and the overlying cartilage layer. Severe pain, even at rest in an advanced state, is a sign that the joint is severely damaged or already destroyed.
Read about the main clinical pictures of bone necrosis in the hip, hand, foot, shoulder and upper arm. You can also find out how our osteonecrosis specialists and our reconstructive surgery specialists can successfully treat avascular bone necrosis.
AVASCULAR BONE NECROSIS
OUR DOCTORS AT THE ETHIANUM
At the ETHIANUM Clinic, two specialists are at your disposal for the treatment of avascular bone necrosis. Find out more about the expertise of our experts.
GÜNTER GERMANN
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Founder, Medical Director and Plastic Surgeon
Prof Dr Günter Germann is the founder and Medical Director of the ETHIANUM Clinic Heidelberg. The plastic surgeon can look back on an extremely successful career as a plastic and aesthetic surgeon. Clients greatly appreciate his talents as a hand surgery specialist and excellent microsurgeon.
FELIX ZEIFANG
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Specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery
Prof Dr Felix Zeifang is a specialist in orthopaedics and trauma surgery. He specialises in shoulder, foot and elbow surgery and sports medicine. His individualised treatment concepts lead to a very high success rate.
Contact
You can find out whether your pain is due to avascular bone necrosis at your appointment in our orthopaedics department. Use our contact form to make an appointment or call us on 06221 87230.
Service
AVASCULAR BONE NECROSIS – MAIN CLINICAL PICTURES AND THEIR TREATMENT METHODS
Necrosis of the femoral head – femoral necrosis or Perthes’ disease
The medical term for necrosis of the femoral head is femoral necrosis. If femoral head necrosis occurs in childhood, it is referred to as Perthes’ disease. In all cases, this involves the death of the femoral head.
Bone necrosis of the hand – Kienböck’s disease
Bone necrosis of the hand is also known as Kienböck’s disease, lunate bone necrosis or lunate malacia. Bone necrosis in the hand is particularly noticeable under stress and during movement in the extensor wrist. As the condition progresses, the hand becomes increasingly weak and immobile. The pain also occurs at rest.
Bone necrosis of the foot – talus necrosis
Bone necrosis in the foot is also known as talus necrosis. The talus is the talus bone, which lies at the transition between the foot and lower leg. Bone necrosis can be triggered by extreme strain, such as jogging.
Bone necrosis in the upper arm – humeral head necrosis
Pain in the shoulder can also be a sign of bone necrosis in the shoulder or upper arm. The medical profession refers to this as humeral head necrosis.
Treatment of bone necrosis
There are several conservative treatment options, which in many cases are sufficient to heal the disease. The first step is to relieve the joint in question. This can be done by using supports or, for example, by using a wheelchair.
In addition, the following therapies have been successfully established:
- Drilling into the bone to achieve a healing reaction with improved blood circulation
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
- Early use of a prosthetic joint replacement
You can read in detail here which surgical methods we use at the ETHIANUM for endoprosthetics, i.e. the insertion of a joint prosthesis. Our specialists will advise you individually depending on the stage and progress of the bone necrosis.
