Osteonecrosis
Osteonecrosis refers to the death of bone where “osteo” means “bone,” and “necrosis” refers to “death.” The condition is caused by a lack of blood flow to the bones; and the result could be a collapse of said bone. Other names for osteonecrosis that you might hear or see include avascular necrosis, aseptic necrosis, and ischemic necrosis, and it is a disease that may affect one or many bones. Common regions include the hips, knees, ankles, and shoulders.
When osteonecrosis happens in the hips, it specifically attacks the head of the femur, which fits into the hip joint. Risk factors for osteonecrosis include a long-term use of steroids and excessive alcohol consumption. The disease is usually seen in men more than women and generally affects those between the ages of 40 and 65.
