Avascular Necrosis of Femoral Condyles in a Patient Treated Due to Lymphoma. A Case Study.

Periarticular avascular osteonecrosis is one of the most severe joint diseases and may result in complete joint destruction. It may affect patients after chemotherapy involving regimens including steroids. The paper describes the case of a female patient who was just under 18 years old when she underwent surgery due to bilateral osteonecrosis of the femoral condyles that developed in the course of treatment of a haematological malignancy. The aim of the paper is to present clinical and imaging-based assessment of the outcome of surgical treatment by reconstruction of osteochondral joint defects with a collagen membrane and bone grafts. In this patient, radiographic and clinical improvement of the joints treated was noted in a 24-month follow-up period. The available literature indicates that this is the first example of using this technique in the treatment of articular lesions associated with osteonecrosis caused by aggressive chemotherapy. The so-called "sandwich" technique is useful in these cases and may be recommended by the present authors.