Hip AVN in a Martial Artist
A very fit 46-year-old martial artist began having hip pain. He saw an orthopedic surgeon who told him he had avascular necrosis of the hip or AVN. He was told he needed to stop martial artists, weightlifting, and consider a hip replacement surgery. None of these recommendations were appealing to him, so he consulted Dennis M. Lox M.D., a Sports and Regenerative Medicine specialist. Dr. Lox has seen all types of athletes with avascular necrosis (AVN), and all joint presentations, not just the hip. Dr. Lox utilizes Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Therapy to assist patients to achieve their goals.
Avascular Necrosis
Avascular Necrosis or AVN, is also sometimes called osteonecrosis. It refers to a condition where the blood supply to a region of bone becomes impaired, this leads to bone necrosis. This is similar to a heart attack or myocardial infarction.
The heart muscle loses blood supply, the resultant ischemia may lead to necrosis of the heart tissue. AVN most frequently occurs in the hip joint.
Trauma is the leading cause of AVN, and with traumatic causes, it is seen typically in only one hip. With non-traumatic causes of AVN of the hip, it can occur in both hips. The leading cause of AVN behind trauma is idiopathic or unknown. Next is typically iatrogenic causes such as excessive corticosteroids.
Avascular Necrosis can be difficult to manage for the inexperienced. The most feared complication of AVN is rapid joint destruction with joint collapse. When this occurs, options other than hip joint replacement surgery are limited. Therefore, early diagnosis, recognition, and treatment are extremely important.
Hip AVN in Athletes
Obviously, an athlete’s sport has a lot to do with success and the stress exerted on the hip joint, or for that matter, any joint with AVN. This particular athlete was a martial artist and weight lifter. His age of 46, allowed certain modifications to be made to his sport, as he has been training many years, and his need to participate in both martial arts, and weightlifting were his desire. Therefore, after consulting with Dr. Lox specific recommendations were made.
Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Therapy
When it is considered appropriate by Dr. Lox to proceed with Regenerative Medicine therapy, it is done with the patients’ cooperation, to get the best outcome. Unfortunately, not every patient cooperates. They say will do anything necessary to achieve the best results, however, this is not always the case.
We always explain in great detail the necessity of doing things to achieve the best results, and why. Human nature is not perfect. So it is not always the case.
Athletes tend to be more motivated to achieve their goals, so it is the more frequent case they do their part to achieve the optimal results.
This patient was willing to make adjustments to his martial arts, and weightlifting to place less stress on his hip. He had excellent results.
