The venous pattern in femoral head necrosis: Digital subtraction angiography and phlebography in 5 patients

Abstract

According to digital subtraction angiography in 5 cases of idiopathic ischemic necrosis of the head of the femur, the arterial and venous circulation was normal. However, pertrochanteric phlebography showed stasis of contrast indicating venous obstruction. We suggest that this could be due to arteriovenous-venous shunting, possibly resulting from sympathetic dysfunction, as in the diabetic foot.