[Differential diagnoses of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Articular groin pain in adults]

[Aseptic osteonecrosis in children and adolescents]

BACKGROUND

Aseptic osteonecrosis (AO) in children and adolescents has been described in all parts of the skeleton. The disease is presumed to be caused by local blood circulation disorders, the reasons for which are multifactorial and occur more often in times of stronger growth intensity.

DISEASE SEQUELAE

The disease leads to bone catabolism which can affect the epiphyses, metaphyses, apophyses, carpal and tarsal bones of the hands and feet. The more stretched the form alteration of the bone at the end of the diseases is, the earlier arthritic alterations occur due to the incongruence of the corresponding joint partner. If a growth plate is affected, a growth disorder can be the result.

DIAGNOSTICS AND THERAPY

The diagnostics and therapeutic measures are oriented to the site and extent of the disease and the age of the child. For early forms of AO magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the imaging method of choice. In recent years the medicinal therapy of AO has been described as an additional option. The disease lasts at least several months up to years and more commonly affects boys than girls with the exception of necrosis of the foot tarsals.

CONCLUSION

The early diagnosis and immediate initiation of adequate therapy which must take the age and stage of the disease into consideration, can reduce a possible joint destruction. Prostaglandin therapy, as an off label use, leads to a reduction of pain and improvement in mobility.

[Differential diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis of the hip joint]

The differential diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis of the hip covers a broad spectrum and includes in particular crystal arthropathies and systemic rheumatic diseases. The clinical examination of joint effusion of the hip may be difficult but diagnostic ultrasound should support an early diagnosis. Radiographs remain essential in the initial diagnostic evaluation but may be of limited value in early stages of the disease. Magnet resonance imaging may be helpful in addition for the detection of early arthritis.Basic laboratory diagnostics include blood count, determination of C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. If septic arthritis is suspected blood cultures should be taken. Joint aspiration should be attempted in all cases and especially in monoarthritis. Synovial fluid analysis includes white cell count, differential count, examination for crystals and microbiological diagnostics including direct stains and cultures. The most important differential diagnoses of inflammatory arthritis of the hip joint in adults are osteoarthritis, crystal arthropathies and systemic rheumatic diseases, such as spondyloarthritis.

Hip arthrodesis in the pediatric population: where do we stand?

Reconstructive and salvage procedures have continued to evolve in orthopedic surgery with changing functional demands of the population as well as advances in implants and surgical techniques. What used to be popular or traditional care at some point may eventually become a thing of the past, and this is true as far as many orthopedic surgical procedures are concerned. Understanding the etiology, pathogenesis, and managing and postponing the destructive pathway of osteoarthritis (OA) has been the goal of orthopedists since the specialty began in the early part of 18^th century. Options of treating the severe sequelae of an arthritic joint have varied in different treatment eras. Management options have changed from a spectrum of non-treatment and slow suffering to muscle and soft-tissue releases, interposition arthroplasty and eventual extreme options like joint fusion or arthrodesis. The concept and advent of joint replacement surgery started a new era in the management of OA and was a dream come true in many ways. Mobility and stability are achieved together during the arthroplasty (joint replacement) that allowes the patient to maintain a good level of function. Arthroplasty certainly has its pros and cons as we have discovered in the past six decades. Pushing the envelope to younger population has its limitation in terms of longevity of the prosthesis, early loosening, need for repeated revisions that at some point may not be technically possible and risk of infection and disastrous consequences like PE and death associated with the gravity of the procedure. As infrequent as it is in today's clinical practice, arthrodesis of the hip joint has a role and remains a solid option for a well selected case.

The purpose of this review is to discuss the current indications in the pediatric population and outline surgical techniques for hip arthrodesis while pointing out limitations and shortcomings.