Vascular Necrosis Differential Diagnosis
The following differential diagnosis is organized into categories to help guide the diagnostic process for vascular necrosis.
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Avascular necrosis of the femoral head: This is the most common form of vascular necrosis and typically occurs due to a disruption in the blood supply to the bone, often as a result of trauma, steroid use, or excessive alcohol consumption.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Kienböck's disease (avascular necrosis of the lunate bone): This condition affects the lunate bone in the wrist and can be caused by trauma, repetitive stress, or poor blood supply.
- Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (avascular necrosis of the femoral head in children): This condition is similar to avascular necrosis of the femoral head but occurs in children and adolescents.
- Freiberg's disease (avascular necrosis of the metatarsal head): This condition affects the metatarsal bones in the foot and can be caused by repetitive stress or poor blood supply.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Osteomyelitis: Although less likely, osteomyelitis (bone infection) can present with similar symptoms to vascular necrosis and requires prompt treatment to prevent serious complications.
- Bone tumors: Certain bone tumors, such as osteosarcoma, can cause vascular necrosis and require early diagnosis and treatment.
- Vasculitis: Conditions like giant cell arteritis or polyarteritis nodosa can cause vascular necrosis and require prompt treatment to prevent serious complications.
- Rare diagnoses
- Kohler's disease (avascular necrosis of the navicular bone): This condition affects the navicular bone in the foot and is relatively rare.
- Panner's disease (avascular necrosis of the capitellum): This condition affects the capitellum bone in the elbow and is relatively rare.
- Thiemann's disease (avascular necrosis of the phalanges): This condition affects the phalanges bones in the fingers and toes and is relatively rare.