Osteonecrosis of the femoral head associated with pregnancy. Report of three cases

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head developed in three patients during pregnancy. There were no demonstrable predisposing factors. The symptoms were first noted during the last trimester and persisted following delivery. Results of examination, radiography, and scanning were consistent with a diagnosis of osteonecrosis, and in one patient the diagnosis was substantiated by biopsy at the time of core decompression and bond grafting. An association between pregnancy and osteonecrosis, while established by case reports in the literature, does not seem to be recognized by obstetricians or orthopedic surgeons.