Prevalence, clinical features, and risk factors of osteonecrosis of the femoral head among adults with sickle cell disease.

This prospective study examined the prevalence, clinical features, and risk factors of osteonecrosis of the femoral head among adult sickle cell disease patients in Guadeloupe. Screening of osteonecrosis of the femoral head was performed using radiography, bone scintigraphy, and tomodensitometry. One hundred thirteen adults with sickle cell disease (67 SS and 46 SC patients) comprised the study population. Forty-two (37.2%) patients had osteonecrosis of one or both hips (67 [29.6%] hips) without association to a particular genotype, although bilateral involvement was more frequent among SS patients. While the prevalence of femoral head osteonecrosis increased with age, patients of all ages were affected, particularly young SC adults. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head was diagnosed at preradiographic stages (stage I) in 30% of hips and was frequently asymptomatic (60% of all cases; 95% and 90% of stages I and II, respectively). Osteonecrosis of the femoral head was significantly associated with a history of leg ulcer and osteonecrosis of the humeral head. SS patients with higher hemoglobin levels had an increased risk of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.