Evaluation of avascular necrosis and related factors in COVID-19 patients receiving corticosteroids

Haji, Sadra; Emami Meybody, Mohammad Kazem; Abbaszadeh, Mahdi; Raei, Mehdi; Javadi Narab, Soheila; Shater, Mohammad Mahdi

doi:10.30491/ijtmgh.2024.454859.1414

Evaluation of avascular necrosis and related factors in COVID-19 patients receiving corticosteroids

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Sadra Haji ¹

Mohammad Kazem Emami Meybody ¹

Mahdi Abbaszadeh ²

Mehdi Raei ³

Soheila Javadi Narab ⁴

Mohammad Mahdi Shater ¹

¹ Department of orthopedic surgery, Faculty of medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

² Department of orthopedic surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

³ Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (BRCGL), Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Student Research Committee, Faculty of medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

10.30491/ijtmgh.2024.454859.1414

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in COVID-19 patients receiving corticosteroids at Baqiyatallah Hospital.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, COVID-19 patients who have received corticosteroids and at least six months have passed since receiving corticosteroids were contacted, and they were contacted about any pain in the area. Hip pain, lameness, and movement restrictions were assessed. If the patient had a suspicious history, we invited them to undergo an MRI.
Results: The findings of this study showed that the prevalence of avascular necrosis is 9.2%, and none of the variables of age, sex, body mass index, dose of prednisolone, or remdesivir have a suitable predictive role in the occurrence of this complication (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The study's findings showed that steroid treatment in COVID-19 is valuable. However, the adverse effects of this treatment are very severe. High-dose steroid therapy causes avascular necrosis, but case reports clearly show that steroid therapy cannot fully account for the rapid onset of avascular necrosis after recovery from COVID-19 infection, although it is a contributing factor.

Keywords

Avascular necrosis

COVID-19

corticosteroid