title: The incidence of alcohol-associated osteonecrosis of the knee is lower than the incidence of steroid-associated osteonecrosis of the knee: an MRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to clarify the incidence of alcohol-associated osteonecrosis of the knee using MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 131 patients (56 women and 75 men) with osteonecrosis of the femoral head were enrolled; 60 patients had a history of alcohol abuse and 71 had previously received steroids. All patients underwent MRI of the knee. The incidence of alcohol-associated osteonecrosis of the knee was compared with that of steroid-associated osteonecrosis of the knee. Predictive factors of alcohol- and steroid-associated osteonecrosis of the knee were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of alcohol-associated osteonecrosis of the knee was lower than that of steroid-associated osteonecrosis of the knee (18.3 vs 54.9%; P < 0.001, Fisher's exact probability test). No significant difference in weekly alcohol consumption was observed between patients with osteonecrosis of the knee and those without osteonecrosis of the knee. No significant difference in daily maximum steroid doses was observed between patients with osteonecrosis of the knee and those without osteonecrosis of the knee.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study revealed that the incidence of alcohol-associated osteonecrosis of the knee is lower than that of steroid-associated osteonecrosis of the knee.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba City, 260-8670, Japan. tshigepon@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shigemura
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishida
authors.forename: Yoshitada
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Munenori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takazawa
authors.forename: Kazuhisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids