Objective. To elaborate a complex classification for adult femoral head necrosis in order to improve objectivizing the diagnosis, the treatment method choice, and the patient dynamic follow-up.

Materials and methods. The results of the laboratory assays and instrumental examinations of 185 patients with the femoral head osteonecrosis aged 25 to 44 yrs were analyzed. The diagnosis was made by the hip joints x-ray data in the direct projection and after Lauenstein, the magnet resonance tomography analyzing T1- and T2-weighted images as well as the images weighted according the proton density the fat suppressed.

Results. Certain criteria of the femoral head osteonecrosis classification including the digital and literal expressions for various signs categories intended for the femur osseous and soft tissue structures systematization such as the osteochondral plate collapse, marrow edema, demarcation zone spread, focus localization as well as the etiopathogenic criteria were proposed.

Conclusion. The femoral head osteonecrosis complex classification provides the diagnosis timely and accurate verification, clear understanding of the hip joint damage severity, the management tactics choice and the disease dynamics documentation.