Avascular necrosis of the humeral head treated by core decompression. A retrospective review.
Thirty shoulders, in 20 patients, which had undergone core decompression for symptomatic avascular necrosis of the humeral head were reviewed 2 to 14 years later (average 5.6). Twenty-two showed good or excellent clinical results; the other eight shoulders had required arthroplasty. All 14 shoulders with stage I or II radiological changes (Ficat and Arlet 1980) at operation had good or excellent results. We advocate early core decompression for symptomatic avascular necrosis of the humeral head.
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
M A
MA
Mont
D C
DC
Maar
M W
MW
Urquhart
D
D
Lennox
D S
DS
Hungerford
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010020:Osteonecrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies