Musculoskeletal Manifestations of Sickle Cell Disease

Description: Bone Infarction Flow patterns in the marrow predispose it to infarction. The slowing of blood flow through the marrow space allows for regional hypoxia and thus sickling of red cells, leading to infarction. The proximal epiphysis of long bones, especially the humerus and femer is the most common location of infarction in sickle cell patients. Vertebral osteonecrosis and the formation of "fish vertebrae" is a classic finding. UW MSK Resident Projects