Avascular necrosis in a patient with hip pain.

The patient was a 64-year-old man who was referred to a physical therapist 3 weeks following a right L3 hemilaminectomy and an L3-4 facetectomy. At the time of the initial evaluation, the patient was ambulating with a rolling walker due to low back and anterolateral right hip pain, as well as a giving-way sensation of the right hip with weight bearing. The patient was referred to his surgeon, where radiographs revealed collapse/dissolution of the femoral head that was consistent with avascular necrosis.