Pediatric Osteonecrosis of the Capitate

Abstract

126 Osteonecrosis results from the temporary or permanent loss of blood flow to a particular bone. The term osteochondrosis is used more often to describe a similar phenomenon when the condition affects one or more ossification centers in children. Osteochondrosis is characterized by a transient disruption of the blood supply to a previously normal endochondral growth region, leading to a disturbance in endochondral ossification, including chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. In children, the majority of osteochondrosis is self-limiting and will respond to symptomatic, non-operative treatment with complete resolution1. In contrast, the prognosis for adults with advanced osteonecrosis is not that favorable2-3.