Avascular necrosis is a condition where the bone cells in the area die from impaired blood flow to the bone. The disease is also known as osteonecrosis or aseptic necrosis, and most cases involve the hip joint, aka, femoral head. Avascular necrosis can also affect the knee, shoulder, and ankle.
People often develop osteonecrosis from an accident that causes a bone fracture or joint dislocation. The disorder takes time to develop – usually around a few months to a year. If you were diagnosed with avascular necrosis due to an accident that was caused by someone else, you may be entitled to compensation from a personal injury lawsuit. Contact our office today and to receive a free, private case evaluation.
What Causes Avascular Necrosis?
Avascular necrosis often occurs after a displaced fracture, meaning that there are two or more breakages in the bone. This results in misalignment of the bone fragments, which can impair the flow of blood to the femoral head. After an extended period of time, there is a death of the cells in this area. The majority of necrosis in the bone cell cases are caused by a serious injury, but it’s possible for osteonecrosis to happen without an injury, but rather, a disease that cuts off the blood supply to the certain areas of the bone.
An estimated 10,000 to 20,000 people in the U.S. develop avascular necrosis on an annual basis. The disease affects people of all ages, but it tends to occur most frequently in males in their 30s and 40s.
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Symptoms of Avascular Necrosis
Many studies have shown that necrosis can start well before the patient starts to have symptoms. Signs of necrosis in the hip joint include worsening or persistent pain. However, diagnostic tests are needed to confirm other indicators, like subchondral collapse, a flattened appearance of the femoral head, and narrowing of the hip joint. These are all degenerative changes that can cause severe pain, joint collapse, and inability to walk normally.
Managing Avascular Necrosis without Surgery
If there is only a small area or the hip, knee, or shoulder that’s affected by necrosis, it may be sufficient to treat the condition with non-surgical methods. Physical therapy is generally recommended, along with anti-inflammatory meds and decreasing physical activity at work and in your daily life. Early intervention by an experienced doctor is critical to ensuring that you can heal from osteonecrosis without having to go through surgery.
When is Surgery Necessary for Avascular Necrosis?
Generally, doctors will recommend non-surgical treatments as a first course of treatment in treating avascular necrosis. If these methods do not produce the intended results, surgery is needed to prevent or slow down the progression of osteonecrosis. This procedure will preserve the joint in cases where the hip joint has not collapsed. If there is a collapse of the bone, a joint replacement can help alleviate pain and improve overall function.
Types of Surgery for the Treatment of Avascular Necrosis
Managing necrosis with surgical intervention is a last resort, but it’s necessary for patients whose condition continues to deteriorate. Surgical procedures to treat avascular necrosis include:
- Arthroplasty – also known as a partial or total hip replacement, this surgery is performed when there is collapsing of the joint and osteoarthritis that resulted from avascular necrosis.
- Bone Grafting – a bone grafting procedure is used in the treatment of osteonecrosis without a collapse of the femoral head. This surgery can help delay the timing for hip replacement surgery (arthroplasty).
- Core Decompression – this procedure promotes blood flow and bone healing to the area that’s affected by necrosis. However, it’s estimated that around 20 to 35% of patients may need to get a hip replacement even after core decompression.
- Osteotomy – this is another procedure that’s meant to save the affected joint rather than replace it altogether. It’s commonly known as an alternative to core decompression, as it can help patients with more advanced cases of joint collapse resulting from avascular necrosis.
Complications of Osteonecrosis in the Hips
Once avascular necrosis is at the advanced state, you may have permanent mobility issues and osteoarthritis caused by significant joint determination. Joint replacement surgery may be helpful, but unfortunately, there are complications that can happen after the surgery. These include infections, neurovascular compromise, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and damage to the kidneys.
Suing for Avascular Necrosis after an Accident
Broken bones and dislocated joints are common among those who are injured from an accident. If your accident was due to the actions, or lack of action, from another party, you may have grounds to file an injury claim for monetary damages. Responsible parties include negligent property owners, reckless drivers, construction companies, and product manufacturers.
Regardless of how you were injured, the key is to find legal representation right away. Finding evidence, filing the necessary paperwork, negotiating a fair settlement – these are just some of the ways that a personal injury attorney can help you. Our law firm is ready to fight for you and ensure that you are adequately compensated for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other monetary damages.
Contact Us Today
The legal team of Normandie Law Firm has decades of experience in fighting for accident victims and recovering maximum compensation from a personal injury claim. No matter how you were injured, you can count on us to go after the responsible party and hold them accountable for the harm you suffered.
We are ready to offer advice and guidance 24/7, along with free legal services under the Zero Fee Guarantee. Your settlement demands to the defendant include the cost of legal fees, and this is paid to us at the same time that you are compensated from a successful lawsuit. In short, if you don’t receive payment from an accident claim, neither do we.
Please contact our office today and schedule a free consultation if you developed avascular necrosis after a car crash, slip and fall, or any other type of accident.
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