Compared Microangiographic Images of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head and Osteoarthritis of the Hip

Abstract

It is important to elucidate the pathomechanism of hip diseases. Some investigators have studied vascular involvement in osteonecrosis by using selective angiography, however, very fine vascular imaging could not be obtained (Atsumi, 1983; Hipp, 1973). A few reports on microangiographic studies of osteonecrosis have been published, but the site of vascular obstruction was not clarified (Atsumi et al., 1989; Merle d’Aubigne et al., 1965). We have been investigating morphologic abnormalities of vascularity of the femoral head in osteonecrosis (Ohzono et al., 1992), osteoarthritis and rapidly destructive coxopathy (Postel et al, 1970). We believe that the accumulated microangiographic data will help to understand pathogenesis and pathophysiology of the various hip diseases.