What Is Medial Femoral Condyle and Can It Be Treated?
According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, the medial femoral condyle is the inside of the knee, and health issues dealing with it can be treated. Osteonecrosis of the medial femoral condyle can be treated in a variety of ways depending on the stage of the disease.
Osteonecrosis, or bone death, of the medial femoral condyle is treated either through nonsurgical or surgical methods, the Hospital for Special Surgery explains. Nonsurgical treatment is used if the disease is only within the first or second stages.
As the Hospital for Special Surgery explains, during stage I, patients are advised to take pressure off the bad knee with crutches or braces and to take medications that slow the deterioration of the bone. During stage II, the bone starts to collapse and CAT scans are necessary to determine the extent of the disease. Stage III and stage IV of the disease are where surgery comes into play. Recent studies suggest that surgery actually stimulates regeneration of the bone. Surgery options include removal of cartilage, drilling to relieve pressure, bone or cartilage grafting, and joint replacement surgery. Younger patients are more likely to be treated successfully with cartilage removal and bone drilling, while older patients usually have to undergo knee replacement. Other factors that affect treatment include the level of activity in patients and the specific area of the disease.
