Conservative Avascular Necrosis Treatment
Avascular necrosis treatment that is "conservative" means that it does not involve surgery. Conservative avascular necrosis treatments can be used alone or in combination. However, these treatments for avascular necrosis rarely provide lasting improvement. Therefore, most patients will eventually need surgery to permanently repair the joint.
Conservative avascular necrosis treatment options include:
- Medicines
- Reduction in weight bearing
- Range-of-motion exercises
- Electrical stimulation.
Medicines
Medicines can be used to reduce fatty substances (lipids) that increase with corticosteroid treatment or to reduce blood clotting in the presence of clotting disorders. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may also be prescribed to reduce pain.
Reduced Weight Bearing
If an
avascular necrosis diagnosis is made early, the doctor may begin avascular necrosis treatment by having the patient remove weight from the affected joint. The doctor may recommend limiting activities or using crutches. In some cases, reduced weight bearing can slow the damage caused by avascular necrosis and permit natural healing. When combined with medication to reduce pain, reduced weight bearing can be an effective way to avoid or delay surgery for some patients.
Range-of-Motion Exercises
Range-of-motion exercises may be used as an avascular necrosis treatment to maintain or improve joint function.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation is used to induce bone growth.
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