Objective To explore the effect of minimally invasive and mini-incision surgery (MIS) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) on late osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH). Methods From March 2003, Eighteen patients (22 hips) with ONFH underwent MIS in THA. Their ages ranged from 24to 57 years, including 13 males and 5 females. The mean body mass index ranged from 17.1 to 30.1(24.6 on average). The Harris hip score was 46 points before operation. Modified posterior-lateral approach was adopted, and the MIS THA was performed by cementless prosthesis. As a comparison, 18 patients (22 hips) were performed by conventional THA at the same period. The data, including bleeding volume during operation, incision length, operative time, and postoperative function recovery, were compared. Results Follow-ups were done for 6 to 20 months (11 months on average). Dislocation occurred in one patient that underwent conventional THA 2 days after operation. No complication occurred in MIS THA group. The incision lengths ranged from 8.7 to 10.5 cm (9.3 cm on average) in MIS THA group, being statistically different (Plt;0.01). There was no significant difference in Harris scoring of the function between the two groups both before the operation and after the operation (Pgt;0.05). The operative time was almost the same, but the bleeding volume in MIS THA group was less (Plt;0.05). The function recovery was faster in MIS THA group.Conclusion The MIS THA is an alternative to the treatment of late ONFH. The advantages of MIS THA are fewer trauma, less bleeding volume, and faster recovery. The MIS THA should be performed by surgeons with rich experiences in THA and hospitals with necessary instruments.
Objective To investigate the expression levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF-κB l igand (RANKL) mRNAs in bone tissues of the femoral head of the patients suffering glucocorticoid-induced osteonecrosisof the femoral head (ONFH), and to discuss the relationship between OPG/RANKL and ONFH. Methods Between March2007 and March 2008, bone tissues of the femoral head were collected as the experimental material from 35 patients suffering ONFH (experimental group) and from 21 patients suffering fracture of femoral neck (control group). The ratio of men to women in both groups was 4 ∶ 3, whose age was 41-70 years old (55.34 on average in the experimental group and 55.33 on average in the control group). The experimental group received over 3 weeks’ glucocorticoid treatment or more than 1 week’ s high-dose glucocorticoid treatment in recent 2 years, while the control group never received more than 1 week’s hormone treatment. In the two groups, the microstructure of bone tissues of the femoral head was detected by HE staining and the bone tissue total RNA was extracted, and then the expression levels of OPG mRNA and RANKL mRNA were examined by realtime quantitative PCR (RTQ-PCR) for each sample. Results HE staining: bone trabeculae and bone units were replaced by interrupted bone fragments, which were surrounded by many inflammatory granulation tissues and few osteocytes were seen in bone lacunae in the experimental group. In the control group, bone trabeculae and bone units were made by complete lamellar bones which surrounded blood vessels and osteocytes were seen in lacunae. RTQ-PCR testing: in the experimental group, OPG mRNA and RANKL mRNA were 1.35 ± 0.42 and 4.36 ± 1.35, respectively, while in the control group they were 1.78 ± 0.63 and 3.49 ± 1.02, respectively. The expression level of OPG mRNA in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the expression level of RANKL mRNA of the former was significantly higher than the latter. The OPG mRNA/ RANKL mRNA ratio in the xperiment group (0.34 ± 0.16) was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.54 ± 0.20), and there was significant difference (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion The glucocorticoid-induced ONFH may be related to the expression levels of OPG mRNA/RANKL mRNA in bone tissues.
Objective To summarize the research progress on the role of macrophage-mediated osteoimmune in osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) and its mechanisms. Methods Recent studies on the role and mechanism of macrophage-mediated osteoimmune in ONFH at home and abroad were extensively reviewed. The classification and function of macrophages were summarized, the osteoimmune regulation of macrophages on chronic inflammation in ONFH was summarized, and the pathophysiological mechanism of osteonecrosis was expounded from the perspective of osteoimmune, which provided new ideas for the treatment of ONFH. Results Macrophages are important immune cells involved in inflammatory response, which can differentiate into classically activated type (M1) and alternatively activated type (M2), and play specific functions to participate in and regulate the physiological and pathological processes of the body. Studies have shown that bone immune imbalance mediated by macrophages can cause local chronic inflammation and lead to the occurrence and development of ONFH. Therefore, regulating macrophage polarization is a potential ONFH treatment strategy. In chronic inflammatory microenvironment, inhibiting macrophage polarization to M1 can promote local inflammatory dissipation and effectively delay the progression of ONFH; regulating macrophage polarization to M2 can build a local osteoimmune microenvironment conducive to bone repair, which is helpful to necrotic tissue regeneration and repair to a certain extent. Conclusion At present, it has been confirmed that macrophage-mediated chronic inflammatory immune microenvironment is an important mechanism for the occurrence and development of ONFH. It is necessary to study the subtypes of immune cells in ONFH, the interaction between immune cells and macrophages, and the interaction between various immune cells and macrophages, which is beneficial to the development of potential therapeutic methods for ONFH.
Objective To establ ish an animal model of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) l ike human. Methods Ten healthy adult three-leg Beagle male dogs weighing (16.0 ± 1.6) kg were conducted as the animal model of ONFH according to the schedule of cryosurgery designed in advance in which l iquid nitrogen, pressurized to 0.5 MPa, was poured into the femoral head for 16.5 minutes. After rewarmed to 0℃ for 10 minutes, the l iquid nitrogen was repoured into the femoral head for another 16.5 minutes. At the end of the follow-up, the results were reviewed by pathologic check. One dog was conducted as control group. Results The first boundary temperature of (—27.9 ± 4.3)℃ was higher than the second boundary temperature (— 31.3 ± 4.7)℃ by —3.4℃ , and there was significant difference (P lt; 0.01). The diameter of the femoral head of (17.7 ± 1.1) mm was l inearly (^ y= — 2.6 － 2.409 x) correlated to boundary temperature by Pearson analysis, and the R rate was —0.977 (Plt; 0.05). Four dogs in experimental group progressed to collapse of the femoral head l ike human in the 6th month after operation. The rate of the femoral head collapse rose to 44.4%. In the control group, osteonecrosis was never found. Conclusion Cryosurgcry for osteonecrosis of the femoral head in the three-leg canine model may become a method to establ ish an animal model of ONFH l ike human.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) for treating osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) in young and middle-aged patients. MethodsBetween January 2008 and April 2009, 34 patients with ONFH underwent HRA. There were 19 males and 15 females with an average age of 54 years (range, 33-59 years). Of 34 cases, 16 left hips and 18 right hips were involved, including 9 cases of alcoholinduced ONFH, 8 cases of steroid-induced ONFH, 7 cases of traumatic ONFH, and 10 cases of unexplained ONFH. According to modified Ficat classification system, 26 hips were rated as stage III, and 8 hips as stage IV. The Harris hip score (HHS) and modified University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) activity score were used to evaluate the clinical results. Migration of prosthesis was assessed on the anteroposterior radiographs. The abduction angle was measured on the acetabular side. On the femoral side, varus-valgus shift was determined by measurement of stem-shaft angle. The axial collapse of femoral component was assessed with the component-lateral cortex ratio. ResultsHealing of incision by first intention was achieved in all patients without complications of infection and thrombosis of deep vein of lower extremities. Thirty-two patients were followed up 78 months on average (range, 70-84 months). No implant loosening, infection, femoral neck fracture, dislocation, and inflammatory pseudotumor were observed. At last follow-up, the HHS score was significantly increased to 95.22±1.47 from preoperative 50.10±2.27 (t=1.510, P=0.008). Modified UCLA activity score was significantly increased to 7.70±1.13 from preoperative 3.90±0.90 (t=0.830, P=0.003). The abduction angle, stemshaft angle, and compotent-lateral cortex ratio showed no significant difference between at 3 days after operation and last follow-up (P>0.05). ConclusionIf the indication of operation is mastered strictly, HRA may be effective in treatment for ONFH at Ficat stage III or IV in young and middle-aged patients.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head.MethodsWe retrospectively collected and analyzed the clinical characteristics, imaging data, and clinical outcomes of patients with femoral head necrosis who received ultrasound-guided intra-articular PRP injection in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University between June 2019 and June 2020. All the patients received 4 injections at one-week intervals. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Harris Hip Joint Function Scale (HHS) were evaluated before treatment and 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the first injections. Adverse events were recorded. The normally distributed data were presented as mean±standard deviation, and analyzed by one-way repeated measures analysis of variance; the non-normally distributed data were presented as median (lower quartile, upper quartile), and analyzed by Friedman test.ResultsA total of 29 patients were included. According to the Association Research Circulation Osseous classification standard, 2 patients were classified as stageⅠ, 11 as stageⅡ, 11 as stage Ⅲ, and 5 as stage Ⅳ. Before treatment and 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment, the VAS scores were 7.0 (5.5, 8.0), 4.0 (3.0, 5.0), 3.0 (2.0, 3.0), and 3.0 (2.0, 5.0), respectively, the WOMAC scores were 39.27±11.70, 28.34±8.08, 22.82±6.09, and 24.13±7.55, respectively, and the HHS were 46.0 (40.0, 64.0), 71.0 (57.5, 75.0), 78.0 (68.0, 80.5), and 78.0 (64.0, 80.0), respectively. The time effects in VAS (χ2=65.423, P<0.001), WOMAC (F=46.710, P<0.001), and HHS (χ2=66.347, P<0.001) were all statistically significant. There were significant differences in each index between the values 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment and those before treatment respectively, and there was also a significant difference in each index between the value 1 month after treatment and that 3 months after treatment (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in any indicator between the value 6 months after treatment and that 3 months after treatment (P>0.05). Significant difference was shown between the value 6 months after treatment and that 1 month after treatment in WOMAC (P=0.016), but not in VAS or HHS (P>0.05). No obvious adverse event was reported during the follow-up period.ConclusionsUltrasound-guided intra-articular PRP injection can effectively alleviate the pain and improve the hip joint function of patients with femoral head necrosis for at least 6 months. However, randomized controlled studies with a larger sample size and longer-term follow-up are needed in the future to confirm the efficacy and safety of PRP injection in femoral head necrosis.
Objective To compare the effects of double-channel core decompression (CD) combined with medullary cavity irrigation with those of simple CD on progression of collapse and clinical outcomes in non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 19 patients (30 hips) with non-traumatic ONFH who underwent double-channel CD combined with medullary cavity irrigation and admitted between January 2024 and October 2024 (CD+irrigation group). According to a 1: 2 ratio, 54 patients (60 hips) who underwent simple CD and were matched in terms of age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) were included as the control (CD group). There was no significant difference in baseline data such as age, gender, BMI, affected side, ONFH type, preoperative Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) stage, bone marrow edema stage, visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain, and Harris score between the two groups (P>0.05). The postoperative discharge time and occurrence of complications were recorded for both groups. The VAS scores before operation and at discharge after operation were compared, and the differences between pre- and post-operation (change values) were calculated for intergroup comparison. The Harris scores before operation and at discharge and 3 months after operation were also compared. During follow-up, X-ray film, CT, and MRI were performed for reexamination. The ARCO stage and bone marrow edema stage were evaluated at 3 months after operation and compared with those before operation to determine whether there was radiological progression or relief. Results All incisions in both groups healed by first intention after operation, with no infection, femoral neck fracture, or other operation-related complications. All patients were followed up, and the follow-up time of the CD+irrigation group was (146.8±27.7) days, and that of the CD group was (164.3±48.2) days; there was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.840, P=0.069). There was no significant difference in the length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). At discharge after operation, the VAS score of the CD+irrigation group was significantly lower than that of the CD group (P<0.05), and the change value was significantly higher than that of the CD group (P<0.05). The Harris scores at discharge and 3 months after operation in the CD+irrigation group were significantly higher than those in the CD group (P<0.05). The Harris score gradually increased with time, and the differences between different time points were significant (P<0.05). Radiological reexamination showed that there was no significant difference in the ARCO stage and the incidence of radiological progression between the two groups at 3 months after operation (P>0.05); however, the bone marrow edema stage and the degree of bone marrow edema relief in the CD+irrigation group were better than those in the CD group, with significant differences (P<0.05).Conclusion Double-channel CD combined with medullary cavity irrigation can significantly alleviate hip joint pain and improve joint function in patients with non-traumatic ONFH, reduce the degree of bone marrow edema in the femoral head, and delay the progression of ONFH.
ObjectiveTo summarize the characteristics of the occurrence and development of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), and to review the important regulatory role of immune cells in the progression of ONFH. MethodsThe domestic and foreign literature on the immune regulation of ONFH was reviewed, and the relationship between immune cells and the occurrence and development of ONFH was analyzed. ResultsThe ONFH region has a chronic inflammatory reaction and an imbalance between osteoblast and osteoclast, while innate immune cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and immune effector cells such as T cells and B cells are closely related to the maintenance of bone homeostasis. ConclusionImmunotherapy targeting the immune cells in the ONFH region and the key factors and proteins in their regulatory pathways may be a feasible method to delay the occurrence, development, and even reverse the pathology of ONFH.
Objective To explore the program for calculating the necrotic articular surface area (NASA) and the ratio of NASA to whole articular surface area (WASA) of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), to verify the accuracy of this calculation and to predict the collapse of the femoral head clinically using this program. Methods From June 2001 to June 2003, The specimens of the necrotic femoral head from eight patients (13 hips) were obtained by total hip arthroplasty. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was taken in all patients before operation. According to a series of T1-weight pictures, the NASA and the ratio of NASA to WASA were calculated by designing program. The specimens of the necrotic femoral head were sawed into lays similar to MRI pictures using the coordinate paper stick on the auricular surface, the data processing were done by analytic instrument for pictures. The data of both were analyzed statistically by software SPSS 10.0 edition. The NASA and the ratio of NASA to WASA were calculated on MRI in ARCO Stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ 16 patients (25 hips) with non-operation. Follow-up was done to the patients with collapse of the femoral head and to the patients with no collapse for at least 24 months. The data were compared in collapse group and non-collapse group. Results There were no significant differences between MRI pictures calculation and specimens measurement (NASA: 0.412, ratio of NASA to WASA: 0.812, Pgt;0.05). Of the 25 hips followed up, collapse occurred in 17 hips. NASA was 31.06±8.10 cm2, (95% CI: 26.58 to 35.55)，the ratio of NASA to WASA was 58.91%±15.11%, (95% CI: 51.14to 66.68). No collapse appeared in 8 hips. NASA was 14.16±9.32 cm2(95% CI: 6.04 to 21.95), the ratio of NASA to WASA was 29.48%±19.76%(95% CI: 12.97to 45.99). The ratio in the patients with collapse was beyond 33%. Conclusion The NASA and the ratio of NASA to WASA in patients withONFH can be accurately calculated with the MRI pictures. The possibility of collapse can be predicted by this method. As it is complicated in operation, improvement should be made in order to put itinto clinical use.
Objective To retrospectively analyze the cl inical effect of l ightbulb operation with nano-hydroxyapatite/ collagen in a consecutive series of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). Methods From January 2001to July 2005, 26 patients (35 hips) were treated, 16 males and 10 females, aged 19-54 years old (33.5 on average). The course of disease was 12-36 months (18 months on average). Based on the etiology, 15 cases (22 hips) were steroid induced type, 10 (12 hips) were alcohol induced type and the other one (1 hip ) was idiopathic type. According to the system of Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO), there were 6 hi ps of stage IIB, 16 hi ps of stage IIC, 9 hi ps of stage IIIA, 3 hi ps of stage IIIB and 1 hip of stage IIIC. The Harris score was 62.2 ± 7.5. All the patients who had undergone l ightbulb operation with nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen were evaluated both cl inically and radiographically. The bone graft mixture rate of nanohydroxyapatite/ collagen and autogenous bone was 1 ∶ 1, and the mixed bone graft was 6 times of the scraped osteonecrosis volume (30-48 mL). Results The incisions of all 26 patients (35 hi ps) obtained heal ing by first intention. The 2 cases, which got lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury during the operation, recovered 3-6 months after the operation without any treatment. Another 2 cases got heterotopic ossification 3 months after operation, with no special treatment. All the 26 patients (35 hips) were followed up for 2-7 years (3.5 on average). The patients’ bone heal ing began from the 3rd month after operation. The postoperative Harris score was 85.1 ± 16.2, and there was significant difference compared with the preoperative one (P lt; 0.001). There were 15 hips of excellent, 11 of good, 5 of fair, and 4 of poor which received total hip arthroplasty at the end of the follow-up. According to imaging, 5 hips were progressed from preoperative IIC to IIIA, while the other hips were radiologically stable, with no progress of ONFH. Conclusion Lightbulb operation with nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen provides a surgical treatment to treat early ONFH with satisfactory cl inical outcomes. Nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen is beneficial for the repair and reconstruction of ONFH and suitable for femoral-head-preserving operation for the patients with ONFH of stage II.