Dysbaric osteonecrosis or DON is a form of avascular necrosis where there is death of a portion of the bone that is thought to be caused by nitrogen embolism (blockage of the blood vessels by a bubble of nitrogen coming out of solution) in divers. Although the definitive pathologic process is poorly understood, there are several hypotheses:
- Intra- or extravascular nitrogen in bones, "nitrogen embolism".
- Osmotic gas effects due to intramedullary pressure effects.
- fat embolism
- hemoconcentration and increased coagulability.
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