Core decompression with bone marrow injection for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis.

Background: Core decompression has been recommended in treatment of non-traumatic femoral head necrosis in early stage. Injection with patient’s own bone marrow from the iliac crest might promote bone formation in the femoral head. Objective: To evaluate the result of patients treated by this technique. Material and Method: Retrospective review of a series cases by the medical records and radiographic pictures. Results: There were 34 procedures from 32 patients. Mean follow-up time was 24.6 months in stage 2 and 27.8 months in stage 3. Radiographic progression was observed in 76% and 69% of stage 2 and 3. Twenty one percent of stage 2 hips underwent other surgeries when 46% of stage 3 did at last follow-up. Pain relief was observed in all cases after the surgery. Conclusion: The proposed technique yielded only fair results. Probably due to most patients had steroid related pathology. Keywords: Core decompression, Avascular necrosis of the femoral head, Bone marrow injection