FEMORAL-HEAD AVASCULAR NECROSIS ASSOCIATED WITH METAPHYSEAL ANEURYSMAL BONE-CYST

A 12-year-old girl had an aneurysmal bone cyst in the proximal femoral metaphysis simultaneously with an avascular necrosis of the femoral h ead, as seen on radiological examination. No extension of the lesion a cross the growth plate into the femoral epiphysis was observed. The ex pansive behavior of this lesion (ABC) could have compromised the poste rosuperior vascular supply of the femoral epiphysis, since no radiogra phic signs of fractures could be found. Vascular anomalies within the lesion that increase venous pressure could be another factor responsib le for the decrease in the blood supply of the femoral epiphysis and c ould cause necrosis, hence compromising the morphology of the hip join t at maturity.