[Diagnosis and surgical management of femoral head osteonecrosis in sickle cell disease].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate diagnosis and surgical management of femoral head osteonecrosis in sickle cell disease (SCD).

METHODS

The related literature available today was reviewed, and the clinical advance in the diagnosis of femoral head osteonecrosis complicating SCD and its surgical management was evaluated.

RESULTS

Although the advance in the diagnosis and the surgical treatment for the femoral head osteonecrosis in SCD had been achieved, challenging clinical problems still remained because of many complications after the surgical treatment. Whether the surgical management was reasonable in a particular stage of the disease and for a specific patient still required investigation.

CONCLUSION

Whether the salvage of the patient's hip joint should be performed or the artificial joint replacement should be performed still needs a cautious consideration before either of the surgical managements is given.