Efficacy of fibula fixation in the early treatment of Osteonecrosis of the femoral head and its effects on local microcirculation, articular surface collapse, joint pain and function

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of fibula fixation in the early treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). METHODS: 130 patients with ONFH were selected and randomly divided into control group and observation group. Patients in the control group received core decompression treatment, while patients in the observation group received fibula fixation. The local microcirculation was observed by dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, necrotic volume was measured using MRI, articular surface collapse by using X-ray, McGill pain questionnaire was used to understand and compared the joint pain condition. RESULTS: Τhe total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). Necrosis volume of observation group was significantly smaller than that of control group (p<0.05). Degree of joint pain was significantly lower in observation group than in control (p<0.05). Harris scores were higher in observation group than in control group (p<0.05). All life scores of observation were significantly higher than those of control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: fibula fixation seems to be not superior to core decompression n preventing articular surface collapse, but it can effectively relieve the joint pain in patients with early ONFH.