HISTOPATHOLOGY OF THE VESSELS OF THE FEMORAL HEADS IN SPECIMENS OF OSTEONECROSIS, OSTEOARTHRITIS AND ALGODYSTROPHY

The authors studied by light microscopy the vessels of the femoral hea d and neck in 38 well preserved specimens from core biopsy. There were 17 cases of osteonecrosis (ON), 11 cases of osteoarthrosis (OA) and 1 0 cases of reflex sympathetic dystrophy, so called algodystrophy (AD). Mean age of the patients was respectively 44, 45 and 42 years. The se x ratio, M/F, was respectively 12/5, 6/5 and 9/1. Types of staining us ed were hematoxylin-eosin, Masson Trichrome, P.A.S. and Verhoeff. In c ounting, thick-walled and thin-walled vessels were distinguished. Ther e was a significant reduction in the number of the thick- and thin-wal led vessels, in the ON group, by comparison with the OA and AD groups. An increased number of thin-walled vessels in the AD group were also observed. Morphological study showed an abnormal frequency of fibrosis of the media in the arteries of the ON group, i.e. arteriosclerosis. These data were compared with the few other histopathological studies previously published. The authors recommend further studies in order t o precise their frequency and their significance.