Preserving hip treatment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Abstract

Objective To investigate the early diagnosis and treatment options for steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH). Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted in 73 patients with unilateral SONFH from January 2010 to June 2017. There were 27 males and 46 females, aged 34.26±10.35 years (range, 20-45 years). The following type of cases were included, 21 cases of ARCO I, 24 cases of IIa, 8 cases of IIb, 18 cases of IIc and 2 cases of IIIa. Patients with ARCO I were limited in weight and were treated with low molecular weight heparin sodium and ginkgo dharma drugs after excluding bleeding risk. Core decompression was performed in patients with ARCO IIa and IIb vascularized greater trochanter bone transfer was conducted in patients with IIc and IIIa. During the follow-up duration, when the ARCO I progressed to ARCO IIa and IIb, the core decompression was performed. When the ARCO IIa and IIb progressed to the ARCO IIc or IIIa, the vascularized greater trochanter bone transfer was conducted. Vascularized greater trochanter bone combined with the tantalum rod was implanted in ARCO IIIb. The femoral head reconstruction with the larger trochanter bone flap or joint replacement was performed in ARCO IIIc and above. The Harris hip score was used to evaluate the clinical outcomes. The femoral head survival curve of SONFH was drawn with the end of joint replacement. Results All 73 patients were followed up for an average of 29 months (range, 18 to 48 months). After treatment of 21 patients with ARCO I, a total of 14 (67%) patients had no ARCO staging progress. After 6 months, three patients progressed to ARCO IIb and 4 patients progressed to ARCO IIc. All 32 patients with ARCO IIa and IIb were treated, of which 25 (78%) did not progress but 4 patients progressed to ARCO IIIa at 6 months. Only one patient progressed to ARCO IIIb at 6 months, and 2 patient progressed to ARCO IIIc at 12 months. There were 18 patients with ARCO IIc underwent treatment, of which 14 patients (78%) did not progress but 2 patients progressed to ARCO IIIa at 6 months and 2 patients progressed to ARCO IIIc at 24 months and to ARCO IV at 42 months, respectively. Two patients of ARCO IIIa, 1 patient did not progress and the other one progressed to ARCO IV at 36 months. The Harris hip score was 90.48±5.36 before treatment and 91.76±8.19 at the last follow-up. The difference was not statistically significant (t=1.231, P=0.402). The Harris hip score of patients with ARCO IIa and IIb in creased from 75.22±8.30 to 84.47±16.77 with statistically significant difference (t=5.624, P<0.001). The Harris hip score of patients with ARCO IIc and IIIa increased from 59.80±9.24 to 77.75±20.75 with statistically significant difference (t=12.033, P<0.001). Four patients eventually underwent arthroplasty. The femoral head survival rate was 98.6% at 2 years and 94.5% at 4 years. Conclusion The SONFH can be diagnosed early by screening, and is treated by different reserving hip methods according to severe stages. The short-term clinical effects are satisfied. Key words: Glucocorticoids; Femur head necrosis; Free tissue flaps; Decompression, surgical