J Korean Pain Soc.  1992 May;5(1):117-120.

Bilateral Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head After Epidural Steroid Injection for the Management of Low Back Pain

• Kim DG
• Roh SJ
• Ban JS
• Min BW

Abstract

Non traumatic aseptic necrosis of the head of the femur is well documented with respect to its clinical roentgenographic and pathological aspect, but not with respect to etiology. A number of reports have associated various diseases and conditions with necrosis of the femoral head. Prominent among these are alcoholism, steroid therapy and hemostatic disorder. The increased incidence of avascular necrosis of bone associated with long-term corticosteroid therapy has aroused much interest. The pathogenesis of cortisone-induced avascular necrosis is as yet unproved. But cortisoneinduced fatty liver with hyperlipidemia, leading to systemic embolization of fat and avascular necrosis of bone has much experimental support. We present a case of bilateral avascular necrosis of the femur head following several epidural steroid injections in a 30 year old male patient who had low back pain with radiation to both legs for 1 year and who had Cushinoid appearance for several months. One week later, he had a total replacement of both hip operation.

Keyword

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head; Long-term corticosteroid therapy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Alcoholism
Fatty Liver
Femur
Femur Head
Head*
Hemostatic Disorders
Hip
Humans
Hyperlipidemias
Incidence
Leg
Low Back Pain*
Male
Necrosis*
Osteonecrosis