19/07/2025
What is the diagnosis?
Avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
📌Early X-rays may be normal or show subtle sclerosis; MRI is key for early diagnosis.
📌Look for the classic crescent sign on radiographs in intermediate stages, and eventual collapse with joint space narrowing in late stages.
📌Ficat and ARCO classifications guide staging and management.
🔨 If AVN is detected early (pre-collapse), imaging guides conservative management (e.g., protected weight-bearing, medication) or hip-preserving surgeries like core decompression. Once femoral head collapse occurs, imaging dictates the need for reconstructive procedures or to plan joint replacement surgeries.
