Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral condyle--a clinical study of eighteen knees in ten patients.

Clinical feature of rarely occurring steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral condyle was analyzed in 10 patients. Patients' ages at onset ranged from 19 years to 43 years. The patients consisted of 2 cases affected unilaterally and 8 cases affected bilaterally. In two knees lesion developed in the medial condyle, but it involved the lateral condyle of 11 knees or both the medial and lateral condyles of 5 knees. Mean period from the start of steroid therapy to manifestation of lesion was 79 months and mean total dose was 29.0 g. Subjectively, knee pain was not so severe and ADL was not so limited in most cases. Radiographically, lesions which were located solely in anterior area or posterior condyle belonged to the initial or moderate stage. However, the majority of those lesions which were located mainly in the central area was medium or large in size belonged to the advanced stages.