Clearwater, FL - (727) 462-5582
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Shoulder Avascular Necrosis (AVN)

AVN of the shoulder explained by an experienced Tampa Bay doctor
AVN of the shoulder explained by an experienced Tampa Bay, FL and Los Angeles, stem cell expert.

Why Treat Shoulder AVN in LA and Tampa Bay Florida?

Avascular necrosis (AVN) or osteonecrosis of the shoulder is one of the more common sites of presentation of AVN (the hip being the first).

Understanding shoulder AVN takes an experienced doctor. Dennis M. Lox, M.D. has been treating his shoulder patients with stem cell therapy for over a decade. To make himself available to patients across the globe, he chooses to have an office on the east coast of Tampa Bay Florida in the city of Clearwater, Florida as well as an office on the west coast in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area of Beverly Hills, California.

What is Avascular Necrosis?

Avascular necrosis (AVN) is essentially a region of bone that has died as the result of loss of its blood supply.

Without nutrition from the blood vasculature (oxygen and nutrients), the bone cannot survive.

Humeral Head

There are many eponyms for avascular necrosis:

  • Osteonecrosis
  • Ischemic necrosis
  • Aseptic necrosis
  • Bone infarction

All these eponyms refer to descriptive words reflecting the nature of the problem.

Avascular and ischemic, refer to loss of blood supply. Osteo refers to bone. Necrosis or infarction, refers to the decay or cellular death that results from the loss of blood supply.

The main blood supply to the bone of the shoulder (humerus) is the arcuate branch (intraosseous) off the humeral circumflex artery. A smaller contribution is from the posterior humeral circumflex artery. Disruption of these blood vessels may result in AVN.

 Causes of Avascular Necrosis

  1. High-dose use of corticosteroids (steroids) is a common cause of AVN.
  2. Joint or bone trauma.
  3. Idiopathic (a disease with no identifiable cause).
  4. Heavy alcohol use.
  5. Some disease states (Sickle cell, Lupus, Gaucher’s, Caisson’s, Pancreatitis).

Symptoms of Avascular Necrosis

Symptoms of avascular necrosis (ischemic necrosis) may vary. Initially shoulder pain may be gradual with no obvious history, especially in association with prolonged steroids (cortisone) usage.

Loss of vasculature (avascular or ischemic) that results from trauma, such as humeral fractures may be more acute. However, in the setting of trauma with surgery, a high index of suspicion should always be present in persistent shoulder pain.

 Diagnosis 

AVN shoulder

The diagnosis may be made on x-rays, however early or more accurate assessment may be made on an MRI evaluation. If bone collapse occurs, joint involvement will be the result. Secondary arthritis may lead to advanced joint destruction.

A classification system has been described for descriptive and perhaps prognosis with treatment by Creuss.

Creuss Classification System

  • Stage I – Normal x-ray. Changes seen on MRI.
  • Stage II – X-ray findings of sclerosis (wedged or mottled appearance) and osteopenia.
  • Stage III – Crescent sign (indicative of subchondral fracture)
  • Stage IV – X-ray findings of flattening or collapse of the humerus bone.

Normal Repair

The normal repair process for the body and in ischemic necrosis (AVN) is to re-establish blood supply and then to repair the necrotic bone.

Vascular repair occurs by angiogenesis, the process through which new blood vessels form from pre-existing vessels.

Treatment for AVN

Rest and conservative management have been advocated for early stages I or II.

However, aggressive surgical opinions are not uncommon for all stages.

Conservative approaches using Stem Cell Therapy have been successful. Interestingly, some invasive surgical procedures such as microfracture or core decompression are based on stem cells released into the necrosis area by diffusion from the bone marrow.

There has been studies showing surgical decompression with the addition of the patients own stem cells by injection, is superior to microfracture (drilling) into the bone. All surgery is associated with significant downtime for recovery.

AVN and Stem Cell Therapy

Another option gaining popularity as it is more conservative, is to directly inject the patients own stem cells into the shoulder region of osteonecrosis (AVN).

Stem Cell Injections for osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis ) has met with success in multiple different joints, hip, knee, wrist, ankles, as well as the shoulder.

The use of Regenerative Medicine therapies such as Stem Cell Therapy and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for AVN has seen increasing use in the medical literature worldwide.

Is Regenerative Medicine For You?

Stem cells are integral to the normal healing process of bone and assist the body in repair efforts with AVN or osteonecrosis.

In AVN, loss of blood supply to the region of necrosis hinders repair efforts.

Additionally, with age there is a decline in available stem cells in the region to aid in the reparative or healing process. For this reason, assisting the body by directly supplementing the area of AVN with the patients own stem cells can aid in the repair process with AVN.

It is possible to return blood flow to the ischemic area by forming a new blood supply, and then creating new bone cells to replace the necrotic ones.

This process is exactly what mother nature intended stem cells to do: heal and repair. Avascular necrosis often needs helps to accomplish this.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) uses the patients concentrated blood to heal with growth factors.

Dennis M. Lox, MD, has been consulted by patients and physicians worldwide on the use of Regenerative Medicine in treating AVN.

A particular interest of Dr. Lox is the unique needs and treatment of athletes with AVN. Dr. Lox is a Sports Medicine and Regenerative Specialist in the Tampa Bay, Florida area and has treated athletes with AVN and sports medicine problems in multiple sports.

Dr. Lox uses each patients individual goals and condition in order to plan treatment. Dr. Lox has experience with  patients that did not respond to Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) for AVN, that have responded to Stem Cell Therapy.

This illustrates the individual needs of each patient must be assessed for proper treatment.

Avoidance of precipitant events (trauma, steroids, alcohol) is important if pertinent for causation.

For more information on avascular necrosis (AVN) conditions or athletes with avascular necrosis or sports medicine injuries click here.

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Dennis M. Lox, M.D., serves patients in the greater Tampa Bay area, including, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, New Port Richey, Sarasota, Orlando and Spring Hill.

He has been pleased to accommodate the needs of patients throughout Florida, the United States, the Western Hemisphere, and Europe, as well. Our offices can be reached at (727) 462-5582 (Clearwater, FL) and (310) 975-7033 (Beverly Hills, CA). Call to schedule your visit today.

Are You Looking to Avoid Surgery?

If you haven't found joint relief should schedule a personal consultation with Dennis M. Lox, M.D., to learn if you are able to get joint relief without the need for invasive surgery.

Stem Cell Therapy in Clearwater, FL and Beverly Hills, CA

Dr. Lox treats the Tampa Bay Metro Area including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa , Pinellas Park, Palm Harbor, Orlando and Sarasota as well as the Los Angeles Metro Area including Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

Call our office in Clearwater, FL or Beverly Hills, CA to schedule a consultation with Dr. Dennis Lox.

Clearwater, Florida Office

2030 Drew St.
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 462-5582

Beverly Hills, California Office

450 N Roxbury Dr. #602
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 975-7033

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*DISCLAIMER: Like all medical procedures, those performed by Dennis Lox, M.D. have a success and failure rate. Patient reviews and testimonials on this site should not be interpreted as a statement on the effectiveness of our treatments for anyone else.