The diagnosis and management of spontaneous and post-arthroscopy osteonecrosis of the knee.

Abstract

Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SPONK) and osteo necrosis in the postoperative knee (ONPK) are two clinical entities that have the potential to cause significant morbidity in affected patients. In addition to the knowledge of the patient population at risk and the classic presentation and imaging characteristics of SPONK and ONPK, the treating orthopaedic surgeon needs to maintain a high index of suspicion for these disorders since early diagnosis and treatment may allow for an improved clinical outcome. The following review presents the current knowledge regarding these two pathological processes of the knee.