Outcome measures for evaluation of treatments for osteonecrosis

Core Decompression and Biological Treatment in Osteonecrosis of the Hip due to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, 8-year Follow-up: A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Osteonecrosis most commonly affects the femoral head, especially in middle-aged adults. It can be caused by trauma, chronic inflammation, or infection. It leads to collapse of the entire femoral head and culminates with total hip replacement. CASE REPORT: A 29-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had a chief complaint of bilateral hip pain. She was diagnosed with early osteonecrosis of the femoral head (FICAT stage II) using magnetic resonance imaging and core decompression surgery was performed using three small diameter (4 mm) drillings and added biological treatment. She was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS), Harris hip score (HHS), and plain radiography in the pre-operative stage and post-operative follow-up. RESULTS: Functional outcome at 8-year follow-up showed improvement with significantly decreased VAS (pre-operative: 5, post-operative: 0), significant improvement of HHS from 52.725 points (poor) pre-operative to 92.025 points (excellent) post-operative, and subsided femoral head lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical decompression and biological treatment result in decreased intraosseous pressure and enhanced osteogenesis. It can restrict the SLE disease progression and limit the number of cell death.

Development of Femoral Head Interior Supporting Device and 3D Finite Element Analysis of its Application in the Treatment of Femoral Head Avascular Necrosis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to develop and perform the 3D finite element analysis of a femoral head interior supporting device (FHISD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The 3D finite element model was developed to analyze the surface load of femoral head and analyze the stress and strain of the femoral neck, using the normal femoral neck, decompressed bone graft, and FHISD-implanted bone graft models.

RESULTS

The stress in the normal model concentrated around the femoral calcar, with displacement of 0.3556±0.1294 mm. In the decompressed bone graft model, the stress concentrated on the femur calcar and top and lateral sides of femoral head, with the displacement larger than the normal (0.4163±0.1310 mm). In the FHISD-implanted bone graft model, the stress concentrated on the segment below the lesser trochanter superior to the femur, with smaller displacement than the normal (0.1856±0.0118 mm).

CONCLUSIONS

FHISD could effectively maintain the biomechanical properties of the femoral neck.

Stem cell implantation for osteonecrosis of the femoral head

What is the most effective treatment for the early stages of osteonecrosis of the femoral head? We assessed multiple drilling and stem cell implantation to treat the early stages of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. We report the clinical and radiological results of stem cell implantation and core decompression. In total, 128 patients (190 hips) who had undergone surgery were divided into two groups based on which treatment they had received: (1) multiple drilling and stem cell implantation or (2) core decompression, curettage and a bone graft. The clinical and radiographic results of the two groups were compared. At 5-year follow-up, in the stem cell implantation group, 64.3% (27/42) of the patients with Stage IIa disease, 56.7% (21/37) of the patients with Stage IIb disease and 42.9% (21/49) of the patients with Stage III disease had undergone no additional surgery. In the conventional core decompression group, 64.3% (9/14) of the patients with Stage IIa disease, 55.6% (5/9) of the patients with Stage IIb disease and 37.5% (3/8) of the patients with Stage III disease had undergone no additional surgery. Success rates were higher in patients with Ficat Stage I or II lesions than in those with Stage III lesions. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of success rate or in the clinical and radiographic results of the two methods. Essentially the same results were found with stem cell implantation as with the conventional method of core decompression.