A case of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of femoral condyle treated surgically.

Abstract

The clinical course and the established treatment for steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral condyle have not been clarified yet, mainly because of the limited number of reports. Conservative treatment for steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral condyle has been advocated, because the underlying disease tends to be serious and multiple joints are usually involved. Conservative treatment usually is continued until osteonecrosis becomes extensive and osteoarthritis has progressed enough to justify total knee arthroplasty. Reported here is a case of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the lateral femoral condyle that, according to preliminary results, was treated successfully with a vascularized bone and periosteal graft.