Modern View on Pathogenesis of Non Traumatic Osteonecrosis

Non traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head is one of the leading causes of hip function loss in young patients. At the late stages of this disease the only way to restore motor activity is total hip arthroplasty. Literature review presents the systematic analysis of the most significant causes of this disease (long-term intake of corticosteroids, alcohol abuse, thrombophilia). Pathogenetic mechanisms of femoral head vascularization disturbance are considered. In recent decades the fundamental genetic studies enabled to establish that pathogenesis of femoral head osteonecrosis is based on the polymorphisms of genes that ensure coagulation cascade, and angiogenesis disturbance.