MANAGEMENT OF AVASCULAR NECROSIS (AVN) OF FEMORAL HEAD THROUGH AYURVEDA AT OPD LEVEL – A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Avascular necrosis is the death of bone tissue due to vascular compromise, which leads to eventual collapse of bone tissue along with its overlying joint surface, which is the resultant of ischemia. AVN is caused due to arterial occlusion and femoral head is the most common type of necrosis affecting the bones. The most common symptoms of AVN of Femoral Head are pain and stiffness of hip joint, radiating pain in groin, gluteal, thigh, knee regions and development of limp during walking.There is no direct correlation between AVN and AsthiMajjaGata Vata but in their clinical presentations it is Vata Pradhana TridoshajaVyadhiwith Vikruti ofAsthi-Majja Dhatu. In contemporary science treatment of AVN revolves around the NSAIDS, core decompression to total hip replacement surgery, which have drawbacks of long-term recovery and short life span of hip joint. On the contrary Ayurvedic treatment provides long term relief and stops the progression of disease without any drawback. Following is documentation of improvement in patients diagnosed with AVN. A male patient of age 38 years consulted OPD, with complaints of pricking type of pain in both hip joints, both thighs and difficulty in hip joints movements in the last 8 months. The patient was treated with oral medication and Panchakarma that included Matra basti of Majja and Ksheerbala Taila at OPD level.