Bilateral femur head necrosis following high dosage corticosteroid therapy for chorioretinitis
Schlumpf, U.; Vonwil, T.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 115(14): 488-494
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 3992232 Document Number: 264852
The early development of bilateral osteonecrosis of the femoral head after high doses of steroids in two young patients suffering from chorioretinitis is described. Steroids were given orally and by parabulbar injections. Consecutive avascular necrosis of the femoral head was treated in both cases by flexion osteotomy combined with cancellous bone grafting of the lesion. In one case a pedunculate bone graft was inserted. Early treatment requires early diagnosis and a high index of suspicion in the affected patient, and seems crucial in respect to prognosis. Conventional X-rays of the affected hips, combined with skeletal scintigraphy in the early stage, appear to be simple and useful diagnostic tools.