Sickle Cell Anemia (Homozygous S) with Aseptic Necrosis of Femoral Head

1. Six patients with sickle cell anemia who exhibit aseptic necrosis of the femoral head are presented.

2. All patients were proven homozygous S by paper electrophoresis.

3. In our material, aseptic necrosis of the femoral capital epiphysis in patients with sickle cell anemia is not an uncommon finding, 12% of 51 cases demonstrating this lesion.

4. The incidence of this lesion may be even greater than we report, inasmuch as some of our patients were asymptomatic, although typical roentgenographic changes of aseptic necrosis of the femoral head were present.