A Clinical Analysis of the Diver's Osteonecrosis

Park, Joo Tae; Park, Cheun Gun; Kim, Hyung Gun; Kim, Yong Jin

Abstract

Diver's bone lesion was described for the first time by Grutzmacher in 1941. Ten cases of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in divers were analysed on the basis of clinical and pathologic feature. The pathologic feature of the osteonecrosis in divers was not reported in Korea previously. The cases were observed from March, 1985 to June, 1988. The authors treated the cases with total hip replacement and obtained good results. The results were as follows:1. The average ate age at the time of operation was 41.5 years. 2. The average follow-up was 20.4 months. 3. The specimens were confirmed as osteonecrosis mieroscopically. 4. By Meyer's modification of Marcus and Enneking classification the average stage was 3.7. 5. Divers bone lesion was increased with the length of diving experiences:diving depth, diving time, age and with bends. 6. The pathologic feature of osteonecrosis in divers differ from that of idiopathic avascular or aseptic osteonecrosis and could be differentiated easily. 7. After total hip replacement, according to Harris hip rading score system, all results were good.