What causes bone necrosis?
Disease description:
I have recently been feeling pain in my hip and have been walking with a slight limp. After going to the hospital for an examination, the doctor mentioned that it might be bone necrosis. What causes bone necrosis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Chen Jian
Osteonecrosis, medically referred to as "avascular necrosis" or "aseptic necrosis of bone," is a skeletal disease characterized primarily by interruption of the blood supply to bone tissue, resulting in death of bone cells. This disease can affect any bone in the body, but most commonly involves the femoral head, humeral head, and kneecap. The causes of bone necrosis are varied and mainly include the following:
1. Ischemia and blood supply problems: This is the primary cause of bone necrosis. When the blood supply to a bone area is obstructed, bone cells cannot receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients, leading to death of the bone tissue. Possible causes include vascular diseases, thrombosis, and arterial narrowing.
2. Alcohol abuse: Excessive alcohol consumption can damage the liver and affect its normal function, including fat metabolism. This may lead to an increase in fat particles in the blood, forming tiny fat emboli that block the small blood vessels within the bone, thereby triggering bone necrosis.
3. Hormonal imbalances: Long-term use of high-dose corticosteroid medications increases the risk of bone necrosis. These drugs can interfere with calcium absorption and utilization in the bones and affect bone metabolism, ultimately leading to osteoporosis and bone necrosis.
4. Joint injury or surgery: Severe joint injuries, fractures, or joint surgeries may disrupt local blood circulation and increase the incidence of bone necrosis.
5. Blood clotting disorders: Certain blood clotting disorders, such as antithrombin deficiency and protein C deficiency, may cause blood to clot within blood vessels, impeding normal blood flow and subsequently leading to bone necrosis.
