What causes symptoms of femoral head necrosis?

Femoral head necrosis is a disease caused by interruption or reduction of blood supply to the femoral head, which leads to bone cell death and destruction of bone structure. The main causes include long-term use of hormones, alcoholism, trauma and certain diseases. Treatments include medication, surgery and lifestyle adjustments.

1. Long-term use of hormones

Long-term use of glucocorticoids is one of the main causes of femoral head necrosis. Hormones can cause fat metabolism disorders, increase the volume of fat cells in the bone marrow, compress blood vessels, and reduce blood supply to the femoral head. Patients should avoid long-term use of hormones and adjust medication under the guidance of a doctor when necessary.

2. Alcoholism

Long-term heavy drinking can damage liver function, affect fat metabolism, lead to elevated blood lipids, increase the number of fat cells in the bone marrow, compress blood vessels, and reduce blood supply to the femoral head. Quitting drinking is an important measure to prevent and treat femoral head necrosis. It is recommended that the daily drinking amount should not exceed 25 grams.

3. Trauma

Hip trauma, such as femoral neck fracture and hip dislocation, can directly damage the blood supply to the femoral head and lead to femoral head necrosis. After trauma, you should seek medical attention in time and perform reduction and fixation to avoid further damage to the blood supply to the femoral head.

4. Certain diseases

Certain diseases, such as sickle cell anemia and systemic lupus erythematosus, can affect blood coagulation or vascular function, leading to reduced blood supply to the femoral head. Patients should actively treat the primary disease, have regular checkups, and promptly detect and treat femoral head necrosis.

5. Medication

Drug treatment is mainly used for early femoral head necrosis, with the goal of improving blood circulation and promoting bone repair. Commonly used drugs include alendronate sodium, ibandronate sodium, and calcitonin. These drugs can inhibit osteoclast activity, promote osteoblast activity, and delay femoral head collapse.

6. Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is suitable for mid- to late-stage femoral head necrosis, with the goal of relieving pain and improving joint function. Common surgical methods include core decompression, vascularized bone transplantation, and artificial hip replacement. Core decompression improves blood circulation by reducing intramedullary pressure; vascularized bone transplantation promotes bone repair by transplanting blood-supplied bone tissue; and artificial hip replacement restores joint function by replacing damaged joints.

7. Lifestyle Adjustment

Lifestyle adjustment plays an important role in preventing and treating femoral head necrosis. It is recommended to maintain a healthy weight and avoid excessive weight bearing; do moderate exercise, such as swimming and cycling, to enhance muscle strength and improve joint function; maintain a balanced diet and take in enough calcium and vitamin D to promote bone health.

Femoral head necrosis is a serious orthopedic disease, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Patients should avoid long-term use of hormones, quit drinking, actively treat the primary disease, and have regular follow-up examinations. Drug therapy and surgical treatment can effectively relieve symptoms and improve joint function. Lifestyle adjustments play an important role in the prevention and treatment of femoral head necrosis. Through comprehensive treatment, most patients can achieve good treatment results and improve their quality of life.