Characterization and pathological characteristics of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee.
OBJECTIVE
Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee affects patients typically over the age of fifty-five years. Evidence exists that this process may not be true necrosis. The purpose of this study was to characterize the demographic, radiographic, and pathologic features of this condition.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients (twenty-two knees) consecutively treated for spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee were studied.


RESULTS
Only one of twenty-two specimens demonstrated evidence of bone necrosis. No specimens showed fat necrosis, marrow necrosis, fibrous change or appositional bone repair. Fourteen of twenty-two specimens (64%) showed significant osteopenia and fifteen of twenty-two specimens (68%) showed evidence of osteoarthritis.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee is not an osteonecrotic condition and has been misnamed. Osteopenia and osteoarthritis may play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Mears
Simon C
SC
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
McCarthy
Edward F
EF
Jones
Lynne C
LC
Hungerford
David S
DS
Mont
Michael A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001851:Bone Diseases, Metabolic / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies