Synonyms of Osteonecrosis- Aseptic Necrosis
- Avascular Necrosis of Bone
- Ischemic Necrosis of Bone
Disorder Subdivisions
General DiscussionOsteonecrosis, also known as avascular necrosis, is a disease resulting from the temporary or permanent loss of the blood supply to the bones. Without blood, the bone tissue dies and causes the bone to collapse. If the process involves the bones near a joint, it often leads to collapse of the joint surface. This disease also is known, aseptic necrosis, and ischemic bone necrosis.
Although it can happen in any bone, osteonecrosis most commonly affects the ends (epiphysis) of long bones such as the femur, the bone extending from the knee joint to the hip joint. Other common sites include the upper arm bone, knees, shoulders, and ankles. The disease may affect just one bone, more than one bone at the same time, or more than one bone at different times. Orthopaedic doctors most often diagnose the disease.
The amount of disability that results from osteonecrosis depends on what part of the bone is affected, how large an area is involved, and how effectively the bone rebuilds itself. The process of bone rebuilding takes place after an injury as well as during normal growth. Normally, bone continuously breaks down and rebuilds--old bone is reabsorbed and replaced with new bone. The process keeps the skeleton strong and helps it to maintain a balance of minerals. In the course of osteonecrosis, however, the healing process is usually ineffective and the bone tissues break down faster than the body can repair them. If left untreated, the disease progresses, the bone collapses, and the joint surface breaks down, leading to pain and arthritis.
Organizations related to Osteonecrosis- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
6300 North River Road
Rosemont IL 60018-4262
Phone #: 847-823-7186
800 #: --
e-mail: webhelp@aaos.org
Home page: http://www.aaos.org/
- Arthritis Foundation
1330 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta GA 30309
Phone #: 404-872-7100
800 #: 800-568-4045
e-mail: help@arthritis.org
Home page: http://www.arthritis.org
- MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
- NIH/National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda MD 20892-3675
Phone #: 301-495-4484
800 #: 877-226-4267
e-mail: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info
- NIH/Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases - National Resource Center
2 AMS Circle
Bethesda MD 20892-3676
Phone #: 202-223-0344
800 #: 800-624-2663
e-mail: niamsboneinfo@mail.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/
- National Osteonecrosis Foundation
c/o NONF Suite 201
Baltimore MD 21239
Phone #: 410-532-5985
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.nonf.org
For a Complete Report
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html