Abstract
Three hundred and seventy-five cases have been diagnosed as idiopatic necrosis of the femoral head (INFH) in our hospital since 1965. They were categorized by a history of steroid hormone usage and non usage. 120 cases, that is approximately one third of the total, gave a history of having taken steroid hormones for diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and nephotic syndrome.
INFH is commonly seen in men, but steroid induced INFH occurs equally in men and women. The incidence of bilateral INFH in adult in our study are about 50% in comparison to 71% among steroid induced cases.
Within 2 years, it can be said whether unilateral INFH becomes bilateral. It is also well known that multiple osteonecrosis can occur in cases of INFH, but the incidence of multiple osteonecrosis has been shown to be very much higher in steroid induced than in non usage of steroids. The sites where osteonecrosis apt to occur are distal femoral ends and proximal Numeral heads.
We believe that the results stated adove are due to the general influence of steroid hormones adding to an anatomical minor locus in the circulation of the femoral head.
