The clinical study of bone grafting through a femoral neck window at high location of osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Objective To evaluate the effect of the bone grafting through a femoral neck window at high location in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH).Methods From January 2009 to December 2011,26 patient (35 hips,11 males and 15 females) with ONFH were treated with bone grafting through fenestration at high level of femoral head and neck,and then they were followed up for average of 24 months,with the mean age of 37.4 years (range,18-65 years).According to the Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) classification,there were 6 hips,13 hips,and 16 hips on stage Ⅱ A,Ⅱ B,Ⅱ C respectively.The patients were treated with the bone grafting through fenestration at high level of femoral head and neck.The fenestrated area was located in the junction of the femoral head and neck,involved part of the femoral head cartilage.The effectiveness was evaluated according to Harris Scoring system and excellent and good rate.Results All the cases were followed up in outpatient department for 24 months,and 1 was lost to follow-up.After the treatments with the bone grafting through fenestration at high level of femoral head and neck,no infections,nerve damage and other complications were found in all patients.Harris score of overall patients before and after treatment increased from 73.42±7.30 points to 85.85±11.63 points; Harris score of patients with ARCO Ⅱ A before and after treatment increased from 74.50± 1.76 points to 91.17± 1.60 points; Harris score of patients with ARCO Ⅱ B before and after treatment the average score increased from 73.92±8.03 points to 86.00±10.49 points.Harris score of patients with ARCO Ⅱ C before and after treatment increased from 72.60±8.29 points to 83.60± 14.29 points.The overall excellent and good rate before and after treatment in patients with preoperative 36.4％ up to 84.9％.The rate of patients with ARCO Ⅱ A increased from 33.3％ to 100.0％ after treatment.The rate of patients with ARCO Ⅱ B increased from 41.7％ to 91.7％ after treatment.The rate of patients with ARCO Ⅱ C increased from 33.3％ to 73.3％ after treatment.The difference in Harris scores and excellent and good rate between untreatment and treatment were statistical significant.Conclusion Bone grafting through a femoral neck window at high location in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head were proved to have good short-terms effects which can promote the restoration of osteonecrosis and improve the clinical symptoms of hip. Key words: Femur head necrosis;  Bone transplantation;  Treatment outcome