Three cases of avascular necrosis in COVID- recovered patients were found in a Mumbai hospital
After the outbreak of black fungus or mucormycosis among patients who recovered from coronavirus (Covid-19), avascular necrosis (AVN) – also known as death of bone tissues – has reportedly been detected in three patients in Mumbai.
These patients – all aged under 40 – were treated at Mumbai’s PD Hinduja Hospital in Mahim, after they developed avascular necrosis(AVN) two months since their Covid-19 treatment. It is been reported that both avascular necrosis and mucormycosis have been associated with the usage of steroids.
Recently, Dr Sanjay R Agarwala of Hinduja Hospital published a paper named ‘Avascular necrosis as part of Covid-19’ in the medical journal ‘BMJ Case Studies’ wherein along with doctors Mayank Vijayvargiya, and Prashant Pandey, he detailed the course of AVN diagnosis in the three patients.
He stated that one patient – aged 36 was found with AVN 67 days since the diagnosis of Covid-19, while the other two – aged 39 and 37, were diagnosed with the condition 57 and 55 days later. All the patients were administered intravenous steroids as part of their Covid-19 treatment. Besides, the patients aged 36 and 37 didn’t have any history of hip pain.
“At present, avascular necrosis (AVN) as a sequalae of ’long COVID-19’ has yet not been documented. By large-scale use of life-saving corticosteroids in COVID-19 cases, we anticipate that there will be a resurgence of AVN cases,” the paper by Dr Agarwala stated.
This development comes after it was recently reported that Delhi hospitals are still treating more than 800 cases of black fungus which rose after the fourth wave of coronavirus in the national capital from April to May, data by Delhi government revealed.
Notably, cases of black fungus increased significantly during the surge of infections between April to May in India, with as many as 18 states reporting over 5,000 cases.
What is Avascular necrosis ?
Avascular necrosis is a disease that results from the temporary or permanent loss of blood supply to the bone. When blood supply is cut off, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses. If avascular necrosis happens near a joint, the joint surface may collapse.
This condition may happen in any bone. It most commonly happens in the ends of a long bone. It may affect one bone, several bones at one time, or different bones at different times.
What are the symptoms of Bone Death or Avascular Necrosis?
In the early stages, people feel no pain of AVN but as it progresses, it can affect your joint if and when you put weight on it. After a while, you will feel the pain even if you are lying down. AVN affects hips, groin, neck, shoulder, and knee.
Why More COVID Patients Are Succumbing to Bone Death?
AVN or bone death is associated with the usage of steroids. People who were hospitalized due to COVID and were put on steroid treatment are contracting AVN. Doctors are suggesting that COVID-19 recovered should get an MRI done if they feel any pain near the hip or thigh area.
What is the treatment for Avascular Necrosis (AVN)?
As per Times of India, a typical treatment plan for Avascular Necrosis or bone death is physiotherapy, blood thinners, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve the pain, exercises, and therapies.
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