What does femoral head softening mean?
Disease description:
I have recently been feeling some discomfort in my hip joint. After going to the hospital for an examination, the doctor mentioned that it might be femoral head softening. I would like to understand what this means. Does femoral head softening refer to a change in the bone quality of the femoral head? What symptoms can occur?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Femoral head softening, commonly referred to as avascular necrosis or aseptic necrosis of the femoral head, is a common orthopedic condition.
This condition primarily involves degeneration and necrosis of the bone in the femoral head, leading to decreased structural stability and load-bearing capacity. This process is mainly caused by reduced blood supply within the femoral head, resulting in bone cell death and destruction of bone tissue.
The pathogenesis of femoral head softening may be associated with multiple factors, including alcohol abuse, long-term use of glucocorticoids, trauma, decompression sickness, radiation therapy, and certain metabolic diseases.
Clinical manifestations mainly include hip pain, limited mobility, and severe cases may develop into limping. As the disease progresses, the femoral head may collapse, causing dysfunction of the hip joint, especially when the lesion is triggered by factors such as excessive fatigue in daily life, strenuous exercise, or exposure to cold.
If the lesion is severe or structural changes are significant, hip joint replacement surgery may be required for treatment.
