Osteonecrosis Case Study

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Discuss all the body organ (s) or system affected by the disease.
Osteonecrosis in association with corticosteroid treatment typically occurs in the femoral head (Masi, Falchetti, Brandi, 2007). However, osteonecrosis can occur in any affected bone tissue as a result of any of the traumatic or atraumatic causes.
5. How are normal anatomy and physiology altered?
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a process of the bone cells and bone marrow dying. The new osseous tissue that forms is weaker and can lead to a fracture or femoral collapse (Levine, 2015).
6. How is normal body function compromised?
Normal body function is compromised due to decreased range of motion, altered gate, and discomfort with weight bearing activities of the affected
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What are the potential complications or sequelae of the disease process?
Osteonecrosis progresses through stages that are based on patient symptoms, radiologic findings and histological findings if available. Stages range from 0 to 6 in which 0 presents with normal radiographs and non-symptomatic patient. The stage 6 presentation involves extensive destruction of the femoral head and joint, the stages within have increasing degradation of the articular surface and flattening or collapse of the femoral head, (Staging of Avascular Necrosis, 2009). iv. Who is at risk for developing this pathological condition?
Patients at risk for osteonecrosis include patients with alcohol abuse, patients with bone tumors, patients with parathyroid disorders, patients on corticosteroid therapy, patients with sickle cell anemia, and patients with hypercoagulability disorders. All of these place the bone at risk for either blood flow restriction by nature of the disorder or damages the bones ability to rebuild itself.
Corticosteroid use contributes to up to 25% of the atraumatic osteonecrosis and the male to female ratio is 4:1 (Levine,
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Traumatic and atraumatic. The traumatic causes are based on an insult to the vascular supply thereby causing cell death. These patients are at risk for osteonecrosis after the traumatic injury to the bone. This would be patients experiencing falls, motor vehicle accidents, and hip dislocations (Osteonecrosis, 2014). The atraumatic causes are those that are cause by illness or non-traumatic origins. This would be patients experiencing sickle cell anemia, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes and HIV/AIDS (Osteonecrosis, 2014). These patients are at risk for osteonecrosis by nature of their disease process and the damage caused to the bone structure.
2. How can it be prevented?
It has been demonstrated that boys with asthma that are treated with oral corticosteroids have a negative effect on their bone density and boys with asthma have a significant association (P=.007) that regularly utilize inhaled corticosteroids and a low bone density (Tse et al., 2012). If steroids are to be used in young males in treatment of asthma, it is reasonable to consider supplementing the bone minerals that are insufficient in these occurrences (Tse et al., 2012). Asthma in children with vitamin D deficiencies are common prevalence’s in children (Tse et al., 2012).
3. Explain how this risk is present for this