However, it thkes many months, even years, for the dead tissue to be replaced with healthy bone tissue. This happens as part of the normal healing process. The treatment is geared to holding the head of the femur firmly in the hip joint. The hip socket acts as a mould to shape round head as it forms and hardens. The main aim of treatment is to minimize bone deformity while the healing is taking place.
Significant deformity can cause severe difficulties in later life including arthritis.
The first signs are usually a limp, pain and some stiffness in the hip. Since these are signs of many different conditions the diagnosis is often not possible right away. Initial X-rays may not reveal the problem because the bone may not yet be showing characteristic changes. A bone scan can reveal whether the head of the femur is receiving a normal supply of blood. An early diagnosis can sometimes be made from the information on a scan.