AVASCULAR NECROSIS OF THE FEMORAL AND HUMERAL HEADS IN SICKLE-CELL DISEASE - EXPERIENCE AT OATIF CENTRAL HOSPITAL, SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective: To estimate the frequency of avascular necrosis of femoral heads (ANFH) and humeral heads (ANHH) in sickle cell disease patients. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: A secondary care hospital, whic h is the main referral hospital in Qatif area, Eastern Province of Sau di Arabia. Patients: A total of 105 patients, native to the Oatif area with sickle cell disease; 59 patients were males; 46 patients were fe males; mean age was 22.3 years, (range 5-70 years). Intervention: Revi ew of radiographs of femoral and humeral heads. Main outcome measures: Presence of avascular necrosis of femoral and humeral heads. Abnormal ities were graded according to Ficat's classification of ANFH. Results : The frequency of ANFH was 41.9%, and that of ANHH was 47.6%. The dis ease was bilateral in 63.6% and 84% of patients with ANFH and ANHH res pectively; 72.7% of patients with ANFH had also ANHH. Conclusion: The frequencies of ANFH and ANHH as reported in this study from Qatif area are much higher than previously reported from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.