Introduction Osteochondrosis dissecans is the name given to a disease of a joint in which bone tissue in the immediate vicinity of the cartilage of the joint surface is destroyed. As a result, dead bone and/or cartilage fragments can become detached and be freely movable in the joint (a so-called joint mouse). In principle, any … Osteochondrosis dissecans Ankle
Definition Osteonecrosis (also known as bone necrosis, bone infarction) is an infarction of a whole bone or a part of a bone, which leads to the death of tissue (= necrosis). In principle, osteonecrosis can occur in any bone in the body (even in the big toe: Renander’s disease). However, there are some preferred localizations. … Osteonecrosis
Knee Osteonecrosis is also a typical disease for the knee, or the lower end of the thigh bone. If the knee is affected, the medical term is “Ahlbäck’s disease” (synonym: aseptic bone necrosis of the knee). The cause for the death of the bone substance is primarily a disturbance of the regular blood circulation of … Knee | Osteonecrosis
Pine The long-term intake of bisphosphonates can lead to the death of bone tissue in all bony structures. While this phenomenon is quite rare in the knee area, bisphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis in the jaw is more common. Furthermore, drugs from the steroid group are also suspected of provoking osteonecrosis of the jaw and knee. Patients suffering … Pine | Osteonecrosis
Therapy The therapy of choice for osteonecrosis depends on several factors. Sometimes it is sufficient to spare the affected part of the body for a while and not to burden it with weight, i.e. to treat it purely conservatively. Thanks to this resting period, spontaneous healing can often be achieved. In worse cases, however, only … Therapy | Osteonecrosis
Causes of necrosis Necrosis can occur due to aseptic and septic influences. Aseptic influences include mainly mechanical events, circulatory disorders, radiation damage, toxins, and thermal changes (e.g. frostbite). Circulatory disorders are caused, for example, by diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, genetic factors or the long-term use of medication. Septic necrosis is caused by infections with pathogens … Causes of necrosis | Necrosis
Diagnosis The diagnostic procedure depends on the location of the necrosis. If it is an external necrosis, for example skin necrosis, a physician can make a diagnosis after closer examination. In addition, a smear of the wound is taken to determine whether pathogens are present in the necrosis. However, if the necrosis is internal, for … Diagnosis | Necrosis
Treatment/Necrosectomy Similar to pain, the duration of healing and prognosis of necrosis depends very much on the situation and the patient. In the case of very superficial necrosis, independent healing is possible within a few weeks after removal of the corresponding cause. However, if the necrosis is advanced, a doctor must be consulted. The prognosis … Treatment/Necrosectomy | Necrosis
Necrosis on the heel Necroses of the heel are caused by so-called pressure necroses. These are mainly found in lying and only slightly mobile people and are also called pressure sores. When lying on the back, for example, permanent pressure is exerted on the rear heel. The supplying blood vessels are squeezed and the tissue … Necrosis on the heel | Necrosis
Necrosis through wounds Various mechanisms can lead to necrosis in wounds. Overall, however, this happens only rarely.One possibility is that the injury to the skin leads to a defect in the blood supply and thus to an undersupply of oxygen. A necrosis, which is caused by the immigration of pathogens, for example bacteria, is also … Necrosis through wounds | Necrosis
Necrosis on the finger Similarly as with the toes and feet, also the fingers of the human being lie very remotely to the body-center. Therefore, they are also particularly prone to necrosis. Hypothermia and frostbite also play an important role here. The vessels that supply the fingers with blood and oxygen have a small diameter … Necrosis on the finger | Necrosis
Pulp necrosis The dental pulp is located inside a tooth and contains the nerves and blood vessels that supply the tooth. Pulp necrosis is an inflammation of the dental pulp, for example due to the immigration of bacteria. This leads to swelling of the pulp, which causes an impression of the blood vessels and severe … Pulp necrosis | Necrosis
