ASEPTIC NECROSIS OF THE FEMORAL HEAD FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC DISLOCATION:  REPORT OF TWO CASES

Increasing experience with various histopathologic disturbances of bones and joints has emphasized the frequent occurrence of aseptic necrosis of the head of the femur in fracture and fracture-dislocation at the hip, Legg-Perthes disease, certain congenital dislocations of the hip, and, more recently simple traumatic dislocations of the hip. The pathologic process in all of these conditions seems identical, being due apparently to interference with or interruption of the vascular supply through the ligamentum teres. Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head after simple dislocation is attracting special attention because in the majority of cases when the lesion is recognized irreparable damage has already occurred and the function of the hip has been permanently compromised. Yet it would appear that if the potential injury to the femoral head after a dislocation were appreciated and anticipated the treatment might be so ordered that it would prevent much of the damage to the femoral