Aseptic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: The Effect of Corticosteroid Therapy and Long COVID Syndrome

Abstract

SARS‑CoV‑2 infection remains a hot topic; it is characterized by its multi-systemic involvement. Corticosteroid intake has been the subject of worldwide attention as a potentially effective treatment against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Corticosteroids are registered on the WHO list of essential medicines, easily accessible for a low price, and particularly useful for different categories of people. The authors highlight the impact of corticosteroid administration for COVID-19 treatment on the occurrence of aseptic osteonecrosis in the femoral head. They also examine the pace of onset in comparison to corticosteroid usage unrelated to COVID-19. This article presents a patient with osteonecrosis of the femoral head after taking corticosteroid therapy in the treatment of COVID-19. The dose taken by the patient is 90 mg of dexamethasone equivalent to 600 mg of prednisone. The patient experienced the onset of OTA, and the duration of development was three months, indicating a relatively brief period. Comparison was made with data from the literature from 6 months to 1 year after taking corticosteroids in a context outside of COVID-19.