Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2025

Author Spotlight: Developing a Rat Model for Weight-Bearing Intervention to Investigate Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
05:55

Author Spotlight: Developing a Rat Model for Weight-Bearing Intervention to Investigate Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

Published on: September 27, 2024

449

Osteonecrosis following Steroid Therapy in COVID-19 Patients: An Outlook on the Emerging Problem

Jaiben George1, Deepak Gautam2, Maria Rose Dominic3

  • 1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.

Hip & Pelvis
|February 27, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Corticosteroids reduce mortality in severe COVID-19 but increase osteonecrosis risk. This review examines steroid-induced osteonecrosis in COVID-19 patients, covering incidence, diagnosis, and treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Corticosteroids are crucial for managing severe COVID-19, reducing mortality.
  • However, corticosteroid use is a known risk factor for osteonecrosis.
  • Osteonecrosis, particularly of the hip, can be debilitating and necessitate surgical intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the association between corticosteroid use and osteonecrosis in COVID-19 patients.
  • To discuss the indications for corticosteroid therapy in severe COVID-19.
  • To outline the incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on corticosteroid use in COVID-19.
  • Analysis of studies reporting osteonecrosis in COVID-19 patients treated with steroids.
  • Synthesis of information on diagnosis and management strategies.

Main Results:

  • Corticosteroids are associated with an increased risk of osteonecrosis.
  • The incidence of osteonecrosis is expected to rise with increased COVID-19 cases and steroid use.
  • Early diagnosis and appropriate management are key to improving patient outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Steroid therapy for severe COVID-19 necessitates vigilance for potential osteonecrosis.
  • Further research is needed to optimize treatment protocols and mitigate risks.
  • Proactive monitoring and management can reduce the burden of steroid-induced osteonecrosis.

Keywords:
COVID-19GlucocorticoidsHipOsteonecrosisSteroids

More Related Videos

Augmented Reality Navigation-Guided Core Decompression for Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head06:17

Augmented Reality Navigation-Guided Core Decompression for Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head

Published on: April 12, 2022

3.6K
High-Speed Human Temporal Bone Sectioning for the Assessment of COVID-19-Associated Middle Ear Pathology03:42

High-Speed Human Temporal Bone Sectioning for the Assessment of COVID-19-Associated Middle Ear Pathology

Published on: May 18, 2022

2.2K

Related Concept Videos

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids01:26

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
170
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during...
2.8K
Bone Disorders01:29

Bone Disorders

Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
3.4K
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features01:20

COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung conditions that progressively worsen over time, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. This cluster of diseases collectively leads to a gradual and irreversible decline in lung function over time.
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
223
Fractures: Bone Repair01:27

Fractures: Bone Repair

Treatment for a fracture is based on the type of break, the bone affected, and the patient's age.
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the...
2.9K
Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment01:30

Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment

Pneumonia poses the potential for numerous complications that warrant consideration. These complications include the following:
143