Treatment Algorithm for Osteonecrosis of the Hip:

Conservative Treatment in Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head: A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is a pressing orthopedic issue, leading to bone tissue death due to disrupted blood supply and affecting the quality of life of individuals significantly. This review focuses on conservative treatments, evaluating their efficacy as mainstay therapies. Enhanced understanding of AVN's pathophysiology and advancements in diagnostic tools have rekindled interest in non-surgical interventions, emphasizing personalized, multidisciplinary approaches for improved outcomes.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar databases from January 2020 to August 2023, with the objective of focusing on conservative treatments for AVN of the femoral head. Eligible studies, including original research, case reports, and observational studies, were examined for relevant, well-documented patient outcomes post-conservative treatments, excluding non-English and surgically focused articles without comparative conservative data.

RESULTS

A systematic search yielded 376 records on AVN of the femoral head across multiple databases. After de-duplication and rigorous screening for relevance and quality, 11 full-text articles were ultimately included for a comprehensive qualitative synthesis, focusing on conservatively managing the condition.

CONCLUSIONS

This review evaluates the effectiveness of conservative treatments such as pharmacological interventions and physical modalities in managing AVN of the femoral head. Despite promising results in symptom alleviation and disease progression delay, variability in outcomes and methodological limitations in studies necessitate further rigorous, randomized controlled trials for a robust, patient-centric approach to optimize therapeutic outcomes in AVN management.

Combining Concentrated Autologous Bone Marrow Stem Cells Injection With Core Decompression Improves Outcome for Patients with Early-Stage Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: A Comparative Study

The management of early-stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of core decompression and concentrated bone marrow implantation on ONFH. The study recruited 28 hips with early ONFH randomly assigned into two groups of core decompression with (group A) and without (group B) bone marrow injection. Patients were evaluated using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) pain index, and MRI. The mean WOMAC and VAS scores in all patients improved significantly (P<0.001). MRI showed a significant improvement in group A (P=0.046) and significant worsening in group B (P<0.001). Bone marrow stem cell injection with core decompression can be effective in early ONFH.

Osteonecrosis: what to do, what to do!

Despite extensive literature on the subject, the treatment approaches for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) remain controversial. The literature presently available to the orthopaedist suggests that i) ONFH can be identified early; ii) there are reasonable treatments for early stages of ONFH; iii) no single treatment is sufficient for all hips; and iv) there is as yet no predictable permanent treatment for early ONFH. The author's recommended approach for the practicing orthopaedist includes the following: i) develop a high degree of clinical suspicion that the disease is present and understand the role of magnetic resonance imaging in making an accurate diagnosis; ii) understand and use an appropriate staging system for each hip diagnosed; iii) be comfortable with several treatment options for early ONFH or choose to refer to appropriate centers; and iv) become comfortable with the use of uncemented THA for end-stage ONFH. The field continues to need and should support better treatment studies, including randomized clinical trials.