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Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK)

  • Knee
  • Published:
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK/Morbus Ahlback) mainly affects the medial condyle of elderly women. It is assumed that localized vascular insufficiency leads to necrosis of the subchondral bone with subsequent disruption of the nutrition supply to the cartilage above. The aetiology remains unclear in detail. Operative treatment procedures compete against non-operative strategies, whereas the outcome is unpredictable in many cases.

Method

A consecutive case series of five patients suffering from SONK was analysed. All patients underwent a clinical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, as well as laboratory analyses and visual analogue scale (VAS) evaluation. Our treatment regime is based on high-dose vitamin D administered orally and intravenous application of 3 mg ibandronate two times within 8 weeks. Another 8 weeks later, all patients were followed up including a follow-up MRI.

Results

Within 4 weeks, all patients were free of symptoms. The MRI follow-up showed remission of the bone marrow oedema in every case studied. VAS decreased significantly from 7.4 ± 1.0 pre-interventional to 0.8 ± 1.0 post-interventional. No allergic reactions or other side effects were documented.

Conclusion

We showed that our treatment regime not only eliminated the pathological findings in the MRI of all cases studied, but also decreased the pain level and functional limitations within a short-time period.

Level of evidence

IV.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Osteology and Biomechanics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Lottestraße 59, 22529, Hamburg, Germany

    S. Breer, R. Oheim, M. Krause, R. P. Marshall, M. Amling & F. Barvencik

Authors
  1. S. Breer
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  2. R. Oheim
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  3. M. Krause
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  4. R. P. Marshall
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  5. M. Amling
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  6. F. Barvencik
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Amling.

Additional information

S. Breer and R. Oheim contributed equally to this work and, therefore, share first authorship.

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Breer, S., Oheim, R., Krause, M. et al. Spontaneous osteonecrosis of the knee (SONK). Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 21, 340–345 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2017-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-012-2017-3

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