title: Core decompression for early atraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
abstract: We performed 41 core decompressions in 32 patients for stage I or stage II osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The intra-osseous pressure at the intertrochanteric level was raised in 28 (68%) and there was histological confirmation of necrosis in 36 hips (88%). After a follow-up of 10 to 84 months (mean 31) nine of the 12 stage I hips (75%) showed significant clinical or radiological deterioration; no evidence of necrosis had been found in the core specimens of the other three hips. Of the 29 hips in stage II, 25 (86%) showed significant radiological deterioration, and only five (17%) had improved clinically. We believe that once necrosis has occurred, core decompression will not significantly influence the subsequent course of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Princess Alice Orthopaedic Hospital, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Learmonth
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maloon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000601:surgery; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D011859:Radiography