No method of treating avascular necrosis of the femoral head is completely satisfactory. The goal of the treatment is to preserve rather than to replace the femoral head. Early diagnosis permits early treatment which in turn should provide a
better
chance to save the femoral head.
Many authors agreed that core decompression is believed to promote revascularization and relieve hip pain.
We had treated 29 patients(45 hips) of avascular necrosis of femoral head from March 1990 to January 1994 by core decompression.
@ES The following results were obtained.
@EN 1. Among the 19 patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head, 26 patients were male, 3 patients were female and the ages ranged from 16 to 69 with an average of 40.1 years old.
2. Simple radiograph findings of 45 cases consisted of Stage I in 17 cases, IIA in 12 cases, IIB in 8 cases and III in 8 cases according to modified Ficat and Arlet classification.
3. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) were checked in 36 cases, MRI findings revealed the Class A:20 cases, Class B:4 cases, Class C:4 cases and class D:8 cases according to Mitchell classification and all of the 7 cases in Stage III who had been
checked
MRI were Class D.
4. At last follow up, very good and good results were obtained in 100% of stage I, 75.0% of Stage IIA, 75.0% of Stage IIB and 25.0% of Stage III. So, early core decompression was more effective for avascular necrosis of femoral head.
5. Core decompression is probably effective for treating the early avascular necrosis of femoral head, and relieving the hip pain and delaying the replacement arthroplasty in
advanced avascular necrosis of femoral head.
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