Natural history of nontraumatic avascular necrosis
of the femoral head.
Á Ohzono K. Saito M. Takaoka K. Ono K. Saito S. Nishina
T. Kadowaki T. Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery - British Volume. 73(1):68-72,
1991 Jan. We studied the natural history of nontraumatic avascular necrosis
of the femoral head (ANFH) in 115 hips in 87 patients, 69 steroid-induced,
21 related to misuse of alcohol and 25 idiopathic. The average length of
* follow-up was over five years. Collapse occurred most often when the
focus of bone necrosis occupied the weight-bearing surface of the femoral
head. Flatness of the head due to subchondral fracture was an early manifestation
of collapse. Classification into six types based upon the Á radiographic
findings provided an accurate prognosis for individual cases of ANFH which
is useful in planning treatment and in assessing its outcome. *