This article will give you the key knowledge of femoral head necrosis

Femoral head necrosis is a common disease, especially in the elderly. Its pathological mechanism and pathogenesis are very complicated. Understanding the relevant knowledge of femoral head necrosis not only helps early detection and timely treatment, but also can minimize pain and promote recovery. Based on this, this article will lead you to understand the key knowledge of femoral head necrosis.

Femoral head necrosis is a chronic evolutionary process. Initially, it mainly occurs in the weight-bearing area of ​​the femoral head, where the trabeculae and their microvessels are damaged. Subsequently, the bone tissue repair process begins. If this repair process is not perfect, it is likely to lead to consequences such as femoral head collapse, deformation, joint inflammation and dysfunction. As the disease progresses, symptoms of femoral head necrosis can cause pain, limited joint movement and dysfunction.

Early symptoms of femoral head necrosis :

The early symptoms of femoral head necrosis can vary from person to person, but common symptoms include

Hip pain: Early femoral head necrosis usually presents with hip pain as the main symptom, which may gradually worsen. It may be a mild discomfort at first, and as the disease progresses, the pain may gradually increase and spread to the hip area and thigh.

Limited motion: Due to pain and damage to the femoral head, range of motion may be limited. Patients may find it difficult to walk, climb stairs, or bend their knees.

Abnormal gait: Femoral head necrosis may cause abnormal gait. Patients may experience limping, which is a noticeable stagger, limp, or imbalance of the feet when walking.

There is also a symptom called silent symptom, which is a special case of femoral head necrosis. In this case, the patient may not feel pain or other symptoms in the early stage, but over time, the reduction of bone tissue cells and further deterioration of the hip bone structure may lead to the onset of femoral head necrosis.

Can femoral head necrosis be cured?

The cure of femoral head necrosis depends on many factors, including early diagnosis of the disease, treatment methods, individual differences of patients, etc. For patients who are diagnosed early and take appropriate treatment, better treatment results can be achieved, and they may even be completely cured. However, for patients whose condition is already more serious or has developed to the late stage, the possibility of cure may be lower. Conservative treatment is the preferred treatment method for early femoral head necrosis. It helps patients relieve pain and delay the progression of the disease by reducing bone load, physical therapy and drug therapy. For some moderately severe cases, surgical treatments such as bone marrow stimulation, bone transplantation and artificial joint replacement can be considered.

What causes femoral head necrosis?

Blood supply disorder: Blood supply disorder is one of the main causes of femoral head necrosis. When the blood supply to the femoral head is damaged or interrupted, it causes ischemia and hypoxia of bone cells, and eventually causes bone cell death. Blood supply disorder may be caused by the following reasons: bone vascular damage, vascular diseases (such as arteriosclerosis, thrombosis), long-term use of hormone drugs, fractures or joint injuries, etc.

Abnormal bone structure: Certain abnormal bone structure may increase the risk of femoral head necrosis. For example, hip dysplasia, hip degeneration, hip synovial breakthrough, etc. These problems may lead to changes in bone mechanics, which in turn affect the normal blood supply to the femoral head.

Long-term chronic use of hormone drugs: Long-term use of hormone drugs, such as steroids, may lead to femoral head necrosis. Hormone drugs interfere with the metabolism of bone cells, making bone tissue susceptible to damage and ischemia.

Alcoholism and smoking: Alcoholism and smoking are risk factors for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Alcohol and nicotine have a negative impact on blood circulation and bone cells, which may cause vasoconstriction and reduce blood supply, increasing the risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

What is good for patients with femoral head necrosis to eat?

Calcium and vitamin D intake: Calcium and vitamin D are very important for bone health. It is recommended to increase calcium intake by choosing foods high in calcium, such as dairy products, beans, nuts, green leafy vegetables, etc. At the same time, vitamin D can also promote calcium absorption, which can be taken through sun exposure or food or supplements.

Increase your intake of anti-inflammatory foods: Some foods have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce symptoms and promote recovery. For example, fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation. Meanwhile, choosing foods rich in antioxidants, such as dark vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains, can also help reduce inflammation levels.

Control fat intake: A high-fat diet may aggravate inflammation and osteoporosis. It is recommended to choose low-fat foods and try to avoid saturated fat and trans fat. Give priority to foods rich in healthy fats such as vegetable oils, fish and nuts.

Supplement joint health care products: Some joint health care products such as glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen help maintain joint health. Under the advice of a doctor, you can consider appropriate joint health care product supplementation.

The medical part of this article is for reference only. If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. (Shen Yanhong, Lingshou County People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province)