Bilateral Atraumatic Avascular Necrosis of Both the Humeral and Femoral Heads due to the Corticosteroid Usage

Abstract

Okkes Bilal, Ahmet Guney, Ibrahim Karaman, Ibrahim Halil Kafadar, Mesut Uluoz

Avascular necrosis is frequently associated with femoral head involvement and may also be observed in the knee joint, humeral head, wrist and foot. Avascular necrosis may also affect multiple joints. Bilateral involvement of both humeral and femoral heads is a rare condition in the same patient. A patient who complained about a sustained pain in both of his shoulders and hips for a few years applied to our outpatient clinic. The patient who had oral steroid treatment episodically was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis seven years ago. Arthroscopy-assisted decompression to the shoulder joints and core decompression to both hip joints were applied. The range of motions of both humeral and femoral joints was limited and painful prior to the surgical treatment. A follow-up after five years later showed that the patient’s range of motions of joints was normal and no further treatment was necessary