Bone marrow is the sponge like substance inside your bones responsible for making blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Bone marrow edema is a general term used to describe a painful build up of fluid within the bone marrow, usually seen during an MRI—a magnetic resonance imaging scan. It is usually a symptom of some underlying disease, so treatments are focused on treating the cause of the edema. Bone marrow edema syndrome, sometimes called BME, is a rare and painful transient condition that affects the bones of the lower extremities and for which treatment is limited 1.

Is This an Emergency?

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Causes

Conditions such as avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can give rise to bone marrow edema as can cases of acute trauma or injury to the bone. Bone marrow edema syndrome is a self-limiting condition characterized by the sudden onset of terrible bone pain usually in the lower extremities and most often in the hip joint. It usually resolves itself within six to 12 months.

  • Conditions such as avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can give rise to bone marrow edema as can cases of acute trauma or injury to the bone.
  • Bone marrow edema syndrome is a self-limiting condition characterized by the sudden onset of terrible bone pain usually in the lower extremities and most often in the hip joint.

Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome

What Are the Treatments for Bone Spurs on the Leg Bone?

Learn More

Bone marrow edema syndrome, also known as localized transient osteoporosis, is seen mostly in middle-aged men. Some women experience it during the third trimester of pregnancy. Bone marrow edema is seen on MRI with a reduced density of the bone, or bone mineral density. According to Osteoporosis International, current available treatments are "limited and ineffective."

  • Bone marrow edema syndrome, also known as localized transient osteoporosis, is seen mostly in middle-aged men.
  • Bone marrow edema is seen on MRI with a reduced density of the bone, or bone mineral density.

Non-Drug Treatment

Treatment is usually rest and physiotherapy. In difficult cases, a type of surgery called core decompression is used. In core decompression, a surgeon drills a hole into the affected part of the bone to allow increased blood flow, the formation of new blood vessels and healing to take place.

Drug Treatment

A Splint for a Humerus Fracture

Learn More

Sometimes drugs called bisphosphonates are given with vitamin D supplements to help with calcium balance and to increase bone density. A study reported on the website Ortho Super Site and in Osteoporosis International found that treatment with a certain intravenous bisphosphonate was effective at increasing the density of the bone and reducing pain.

An article in the Indian Journal of Therapeutics and another in Biomed Central both cite the use of iloprost, a generic vasoactive drug—meaning it exerts its actions on the vascular system. The vasoactive drug is usually used for pulmonary hypertension. Both institutions routinely use it in the treatment of bone marrow edema syndrome because it opens blood vessels, encouraging normal blood flow, and treats the vascular abnormalities associated with the condition. The Indian Journal of therapeutics goes so far as to say that reduced load-bearing was not required in most cases in which the drug was used.

  • Sometimes drugs called bisphosphonates are given with vitamin D supplements to help with calcium balance and to increase bone density.
  • A study reported on the website Ortho Super Site and in Osteoporosis International found that treatment with a certain intravenous bisphosphonate was effective at increasing the density of the bone and reducing pain.

Treatment of Conditions Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome

Avascular necrosis is a painful condition that usually affects the hip joint. It is characterized by death of the bone marrow tissues caused by a temporary or permanent reduction in blood flow to the bone marrow. Treatment of the associated bone marrow edema includes treating the avascular necrosis, which usually involves core compression surgery, bone grafting and sometimes a complete hip replacement. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are painful conditions of the joints that may be treated with pain killers, medication that reduce inflammation, injections into the affected joints or joint replacement. Rheumatoid arthritis is also sometimes treated with steroids and special drugs called disease-modifying anti-rheumatics, which slow down the progression of the disease.

  • Avascular necrosis is a painful condition that usually affects the hip joint.
  • Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are painful conditions of the joints that may be treated with pain killers, medication that reduce inflammation, injections into the affected joints or joint replacement.
×