What is avascular necrosis? Avascular necrosis is a disease that
results from the temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to
the bone. It is also called osteonecrosis, aseptic necrosis, or
ischemic bone necrosis. When blood supply is cut off, the bone
tissue dies and the bone collapses. If avascular necrosis occurs
near a joint, collapse of the joint surface may occur. Avascular
necrosis may occur in any bone, but most commonly occurs in the
ends of a long bone. It may affect one bone, several bones at
one time, or different bones at different times. What causes
avascular necrosis? Avascular necrosis may be the result of the
following: - Traumatic causes (including injury, fracture, or
damage to blood vessels) - Nontraumatic causes (including long-
term use of medications, such as corticosteroids, or excessive,
long-term use of alcohol) Other theories and associations have
been suggested as risk factors. A risk factor is anything that
may increase a person's chance of developing a disease. It may
be an act