Clearwater, FL - (727) 462-5582
Beverly Hills, CA - (310) 975-7033

AVN or Avascular Necrosis

Avascular necrosis or AVN occurs from a variety of causes. Dr. Dennis Lox sees many patients with AVN for regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy. Avascular necrosis or AVN is also referred to as osteonecrosis. AVN occurs when the blood supply to a region of bone becomes disrupted. This leads to necrosis or bone cell death. The hip is the most frequent encountered, followed by the shoulder, then the knee. Regenerative medicine has become a viable treatment option for AVN. As being told there is nothing to do but eventual joint replacement which is not comforting.

Causes of AVN

Trauma is the most frequent cause of AVN. Trauma may result in impairment of the blood flow by shearing of blood vessels, which occurs in fracture and dislocations, or also by minute changes to blood flow as the result of trauma. Obviously, the greater the degree of blood flow occlusion, the greater the propensity for ischemic changes and necrotic lesions of bone. https://www.webmd.com/arthritis/avascular-necrosis-osteonecrosis-symptoms-treatments

Idiopathic Osteonecrosis

Idiopathic Osteonecrosis or Avascular Necrosis occurs without a known causation factor. There may still be a cause that has yet to be identified or never be found. This is frustrating for patients and families, as everyone wants answers.

Medical conditions also are associated with an increased risk of Avascular Necrosis https://www.drlox.com/medical-conditions-treated/avascular-necrosis/. The most common is excessive cortisone use. Dr. Lox has seen nearly every risk factor, including some of the more rarely noted conditions. Dr. Lox an expert in Sports and Regenerative Medicine has treated many of these conditions.

These include:
Radiation and Chemotherapy
Autoimmune disorders (RA and Lupus)
Excessive Corticosteroids
Excessive Alcohol consumption
Gaucher’s disease
AIDS
Caisson’s disease (decompression sickness)
Coagulopathies
Vasculitis
Sickle cell disease

Dr. Lox and AVN

Not all are isolated events, it can be multifactorial. For instance, Lupus may be treated with high dose corticosteroids on a repetitive basis. This leads to the question of which factor or was it both that caused the necrosis. Dr. Lox has seen a ballet dancer with repetitive trauma, sickle cell trait, and severe asthma treated numerous times with intravenous corticosteroids. This shows sometimes the issue is not the cause, but the clinical picture.

Avascular Necrosis is often complex, and the discussion of using Regenerative Medicine therapies and Stem Cell Therapy should be done with an experienced expert in this field.


Dr. Lox

Whether you are a professional athlete, weekend warrior, or have arthritis from aging, Dr. Lox can help. Dennis M. Lox, M.D. is an internationally renown Sports and Regenerative Medicine specialist. Dr. Lox incorporates Regenerative Medicine techniques such as cell science applications, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), and Tissue Engineering aspects, to help patients from around the world with a vast array of problems. Dr. Lox is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Lox lectures extensively and has edited two PM&R textbooks, the prestigious A State of the Art Review (Star) on Low Back Pain, and Soft Tissue Injuries: Diagnosis and Treatment. Dennis M. Lox, M.D. maintains an active practice in the Tampa Bay, Florida area, and in Beverly Hills, California.

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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.