Core Decompression

Core decompression is a surgical procedure that involves surgical drilling into the area of dead bone near the joint.

• This reduces pressure of toxic dead substances.
• Allows for increased blood flow.
• Slows or stops bone and/or joint destruction.
• Stimulates healthy bone production and the development of new blood vessels.

Core Decompression is commonly performed to treat Osteonecrosis of Femoral head in the hip joint.

Avascular Necrosis

Avascular necrosis (AVN) is a condition where there is death of bone cells due to lack of blood supply to that part of the bone. If not intervened in time, it leads to gradual malformation of the joint leading to painful arthritis. It involves death of cellular elements of the bone or marrow. Hip is the most commonly affected joint.

AVN is also known as :

• Osteonecrosis
• Aseptic necrosis
• Ischemic bone necrosis
• Bone infarction

The damage to the bone occurs from lack of blood flow to bone cells. That often happens from an injury. It’s also commonly due to damage from drinking too much alcohol or taking corticosteroids to manage a chronic health problem.

Risk Factors:

• Hemoglobinopathies
• Dislocation of the hip
• Alcoholism
• Fracture of the femoral neck
• Use of corticosteroid
• Collagen vascular disease

What are the symptoms?

In its early stages, AVN may not cause symptoms. As blood cells die and the disease progresses, symptoms may occur in roughly this order:

• mild or severe pain in or around the affected joint
• groin pain that spreads down to the knee
• pain that occurs when putting weight on the hip or knee
• joint pain severe enough to limit movement

Pain may dramatically increase in intensity because of tiny breaks in the bone, called microfractures. These can cause the bone to collapse. Ultimately, the joint may break down and develop arthritis.

The time between the first symptoms and the inability to move a joint varies. In general, it ranges from a few months to more than a year. Symptoms may appear bilaterally, meaning on both sides of the body.