Objective To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of treating early-middle stage avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) with core decompression and bone grafting. Methods Between January 2000 and December 2006, 87 ANFH patients (114 hips) were treated with core decompression and bone grafting, including 54 cases (62.1%) of alcohol-induced ANFH, 26 cases (29.9%) of steroid-induced ANFH, and 7 cases (8.0%) of idiopathic ANFH. There were 74 males (97 hips) and 13 females (17 hips), aged 20-56 years (mean, 38 years). The disease duration was 3-46 months (mean, 18 months). According to Ficat staging, 16 hips were at stage I, 68 hips at stage II, and 30 hips at stage III. The Harris score and Ficat stage were compared between pre- and post-operation to assess the outcomes clinically and radiologically. The hip survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Eighty-seven patients were followed up 5 years to 11 years and 10 months (mean, 8 years and 9 months). The Harris hip score was significantly increased from 73.13 ± 7.17 at preoperation to 81.59 ± 13.23 at postoperation (t= — 9.318, P=0.000). The clinical success rate was 69.3% (79/114) and the radiological success rate was 54.4% (62/114). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the overall survival rate was 84.2% (96/114); the survival rates of Ficat stage I [100% (16/16)] and stage II [91.2% (62/68)] were higher than that of stage III [60.0%(18/30)] (P lt; 0.01); there was no significant difference between Ficat stage I and II (χ2=1.520, P=0.218). Conclusion Core decompression with bone grafting is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of Ficat stages I-II (early stage) ANFH, and the long-term effectiveness is satisfactory. But the long-term effectiveness is unsatisfactory for the patients at the Ficat stage III (middle stage).
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of comprehensive management for early stage avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) by arthroscopic minimally invasive surgery by comparing with closed core decompression. MethodsBetween January 2007 and March 2010, 28 patients (33 hips) with early stage ANFH were treated with the procedure of arthroscopic core decompression combined with autogenous cancellous bone graft and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) in 18 cases (21 hips, trial group) or with simple closed core decompression in 10 cases (12 hips, control group). No significant difference was found in gender, age, disease duration, etiology, and staging between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). ResultsIncision healed primarily in all patients, and no infection occurred. All patients were followed up 2.5 years on average (range, 1-3 years). Pain relief and improvement of hip function were obtained in all patients at 6 months after operation. At last follow-up, the Harris scores were 85.67 ± 4.78 in trial group and 81.33 ± 7.03 in control group, showing significant difference between 2 groups (t= —2.10, P=0.04). Collapse of the femoral head was observed in 1 hip (Ficat stage II) of trial group, and in 2 hips (Ficat stage I ) and 2 hips (Ficat stage II) of control group; hip arthroplasty was performed. Significant difference in total effective rate was found between trial group and control group (95.24% vs. 66.67%; χ2=4.85, P=0.03). ConclusionArthroscopic core decompression combined with autogenous cancellous bone graft and BMP is more effective than traditional closed core decompression for treatment of early stage ANFH in pain relief, improvement of hip function, slowing-down the process of femoral head necrosis, reduction of hip joint replacement by accurate location of the lesions, and thoroughly debridement of necrotic bone.
Objective To study the effect of core decompression combining with autologous cortical sustaining bone and cancellous bone graft in treating osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Methods From February 2004 to May 2008, 64 patients (77 hi ps) with ONFH were treated with core decompression combining with autologous cortical sustaining bone and cancellous bone graft, including 45 males and 19 females and aging 23 to 60 years with an average age of 43 years. There were 51 cases of unilateral ONFH and 13 cases of bilateral ONFH. ONFH was caused by alcohol in 39 cases(47 hi ps), by steroid in 21 cases (26 hi ps), and by trauma in 4 cases (4 hi ps). The disease course was 1-12 years. The pain time was 2-14 months (average 7 months). All the cases underwent imageology and postoperation pathology examination to confirm the diagnosis of ONFH. According to Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) international classification of osteonecrosis, 17 cases (23 hips) were classified as stage I A, 2 cases (3 hips) as stage I B, 21 cases (24 hips) as stage II A, 2 cases (2 hips) as stage II B, 4 cases (4 hips) as stage II C, and 18 cases (21 hips) as stage III A. The outcome was evaluated both cl inically by Harris score and radiologically by imageology. Results A total of 59 cases (69 hips) were followed up for 12-62 months with an average of 32.1 months. The Harris score was 87.12 ± 8.68 at 12 months after operation, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05) when compared with the preoperative one (68.38 ± 14.49). The results were excellent in 39 hips, good in 18 hips, fair in 6 hips, and poor in 6 hip; and the excellent and good rate was 82.6%. Radiographic evaluation was 21 hips (30.4%) of grade I, 42 hips (60.9%) of grade II, and 6 hips (8.7%) of grade III. One case had the compl ication of il ium bone donor site, 21 cases had l ittle pain or numbness, and the other cases had no uncomfortable compl ication. Conclusion The method of core decompression combining with autologous cortical sustaining bone and cancellous bone graft can improve the means of bone grafts, prevent the collapse of the femoral head, and is less traumatic than common procedures. Cl inical effects are obvious and effective.
Objective To compare the cl inical outcomes of the core decompression combined with autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation with the isolated core decompression for the treatment of earlyavascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH). Methods From May 2006 to October 2008, 8 patients (16 hips) with earlyANFH were treated. There were 7 males and 1 female with an average age of 35.7 years (range, 19-43 years). According to the system of the Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO): 4 hips were classified as stage II a, 2 as stage II b, 1 as stage II c, and 1 as stage III a in group A; 2 hips were classified as stage II a, 2 as stage II b, 3 as stage II c, and 1 as stage III a in group B. The average disease course was 1.1 years (range, 4 months to 2 years). The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups according to left or right side: group A, only the core decompression was used; group B, both the core decompression and autologous BMSCs transplantation were used. The Harris score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were determined, imaging evaluation was carried out by X-rays and MRI pre- and post-operatively. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, l iver function, renal function, and immunoglobul in were detected for safety evaluation. Results All incisions healed by first intention. Eight patients were followed up 12-42 months (23.5 months on average). The cl inical symptoms of pain and claudication were gradually improved. The Harris scores and VAS scores of all patients were increased significantly at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation (P lt; 0.05). There was no significant difference between groups A and B 3 and 6 months after operation (P gt; 0.05), but there was significant difference between groups A and B 12 months after operation (P lt; 0.05). The necrosis area of femoral head in groups A and B were 18.13% ± 2.59% and 13.25% ± 2.12%, respectively, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). In group A, femoral head collapsed 12 months after operation in 1 case of stage III. No compl ication of fever, local infectionoccurred. Conclusion The core decompression and the core decompression combined with BMSCs transplantation are both effective for the treatment of early ANFH. The core decompression combined with BMSCs transplantation is better than core decompression in the rel ief of pain and postponing head collapse.