Femoral head necrosis in juvenile chronic arthritis

Radiographic signs of ischemic necrosis of the femoral head in terms of abnormal epiphysis and caput indices were found in 30/72 hips in 36 children with hip pain or limitation of motion among 206 children, consecutively admitted during 15 months because of juvenile chronic arthritis. Nine out of 10 hips with obvious signs of femoral head necrosis showed a sclerotic rim at the base of the femoral neck, confirming an earlier episode of ischemic damage to the epiphysis and growth plate. Femoral head necrosis in children with juvenile chronic arthritis seems to be more common than previously reported, and may be caused by circulatory disturbance secondary to increased intraarticular pressure due to synovitis and/or effusion, or to treatment with passive extension of the hip. This should be considered in the treatment and the follow-up of these children.