[Clinico-morphologic parallels in aseptic necrosis of the head of the femur in adults].

The authors reviewed clinical findings from 57 adult patients with aseptic necrosis of the head of the femur. A statistical processing of the findings showed a significant direct correlation between the stages of the process and the degree of femoral muscular atrophy, degree of internal rotation and abduction limitations, thermographic activity, and intraosteal blood pressure. A pathohistological examination of osseous tissue specimens from the head of the femur revealed that at an early pre-X-ray stage, pathological changes involved only the microcirculatory bed of the bone marrow; in this consequence, extra-articular implantation of the inferior epigastric artery with concomitant veins into the neck and head of the femur is likely to be justifiable at this stage.