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.
Mont
M A
MA
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Maar
D C
DC
Urquhart
M W
MW
Lennox
D
D
Hungerford
D S
DS
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