Femoral head necrosis is a disease that seriously affects the quality of life, and if it can be detected early and effective treatment measures are taken, it can often achieve better results. So, how can femoral head necrosis be detected early?
First, watch for symptoms of pain. In the early stages of femoral head necrosis, pain may not be noticeable, but it usually occurs in the hip, proximal thigh, and even in the knee. This pain may appear as a dull, dull ache that worsens with activity and lessens with rest. If you often feel pain in these areas, especially in the groin area, without obvious triggers, such as not being injured or overexerted, you need to be vigilant.
Second, pay attention to the movement of the hip joint. If you notice that your hip is not moving as flexibly as you used to, such as feeling limited when you do maneuvers such as internal rotation or abduction, or if you hear an unusual sound when you move your hip, this may also be an early sign of necrosis of the femoral head.
In addition, imaging is an important means of early detection of femoral head necrosis. If necrosis of the femoral head is suspected, doctors usually recommend tests such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). X-rays may not be sensitive in the early stages, but they are good for the diagnosis of necrosis of the femoral head in the middle and late stages. MRI, on the other hand, has high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of early femoral head necrosis, allowing lesions to be detected before the morphology of the femoral head has changed significantly.
In addition, for some high-risk groups, such as long-term heavy drinkers, long-term glucocorticoids, and people with a history of hip trauma, they should be more vigilant and have regular hip examinations.
In conclusion, early detection of femoral head necrosis requires us to be alert to subtle changes in the body, seek medical attention in time if suspicious symptoms appear, and make a definitive diagnosis through professional examinations. Only in this way can effective treatment measures be taken at an early stage of the disease to avoid further deterioration of the disease.