Background: The aim of this paper is to present the operative technique and results of core decompression and clearing of a necrotic zone in the femoral head followed by filling the defect with impacted autologous or synthetic bone grafts. This procedure allows for mechanical prevention of further collapse of the femoral head and loss of its spherical shape. It also creates conditions for the incorporation of the biological graft or synthetic bone.
Materials and methods: A series of 63 patients (72 hips) were treated for aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head between 1996 and 2009. This group comprised 42 men and 21 women aged 19 to 60 years (average age: 35 years). Radiographic staging of necrosis was based on the ARCO (Association Research Circulation Osseous) classification. All patients were treated with core decompression followed by filling the bone defect with autologous or synthetic (Wright ProDense) bone grafts.
Results: Average follow-up was 5 years (from 1 to 12 years). After one year of follow-up, pain relief with preservation of a spherical femoral head was obtained in 45 hips (63%). Sixteen hips (22%) had significant limitation of the range of motion that, however, did not exceed preoperative values, with no significant pain during walking, and loss of the spherical shape of the femoral head on radiographs.
Conclusions: Filling the defect with morsellized or synthetic bone grafts followed by graft impaction creates mechanical and biological conditions for graft incorporation. Where collapse has not occurred during the first six post-operative months, a good and lasting result can be expected.