[STEROID-INDUCED OSTEONECROSES OF FEMORAL HEAD]

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head is a multifactorial disease with progressive development of severe secondary coxarthrosis. There are two types of necroses - secondary and idiopathic. The pathogenesis of necrosis is associated with local blood circulation disorders, coagulopathies and violation of bone tissue regeneration. Usage of Steroids is one of the most often and important causes of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Postulated pathogenetic mechanisms of steroid-induced osteonecrosis (ON) of the femoral head includes fat cell hypertrophy, fat emboli and intravascular coagulation. MRI stays the main diagnostic method for detection of osteonecrosis in the early stages. Preservation of the native hip is the goal of treatment in young and active patients. Early diagnosis and intervention prior to collapse of the femoral head is the key to a successful outcome of joint preserving procedures. There are no specific biomarkers for diagnostic of ON and NO "golden standard" for its treatment, and frequently a multidisciplinary approach becomes necessary. Joint replacement procedure remains as a main method of treatment after failure of joint preserving procedures and in cases of the late-stages of ON, involving collapse of the femoral head and degenerative changes of the acetabulum. More recent reports of hip replacement surgeries while osteonecrosis of the femoral head, have shown excellent results, but implant longevity and following revision surgeries, still remain an outstanding problem. In this article, there is described one of the latest clinical cases of the steroid induced avascular necroses of femoral head, which took place in our clinic. Positive clinical outcome, that means full physical and social rehabilitation of the patient, treated by total hip replacement confirms effectiveness of this method in treatment of above mentioned pathology.