Avascular Necrosis (AVN) / Osteonecrosis of the Foot and Ankle

Many of the bones of the foot and ankle are particularly susceptible to avascular necrosis (AVN), which is a process in which the bone undergoes a progressive death because of inadequate blood supply. This can occur after trauma and fracture, secondary to systemic disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or steroid use, or even after relatively mild trauma or no specific precipitating incident. The conservative or surgical treatments for these conditions is focused on different methods to rest the involved bones and stimulate blood supply to regrow into the dead bone area in hopes that the bone will be able to mend itself. This may occur with some non-surgical treatments or in some cases surgery may be necessary. If the joints involved with the dead bone are severely arthritic, then additional procedures to address the arthritis in the involved joints, such as welding the joints together (fusion) or replacement of the involved joint may be necessary as well.