Study on the outcome of patients with aseptic femoral head necrosis treated with percutaneous multiple small-diameter drilling core decompression: a retrospective cohort study based on magnetic resonance imaging and equivalent sphere model analysis

BACKGROUND: Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) has a high incidence in the community and causes substantial problems with health as well as economic and social stress. Core decompression is the most commonly used treatment for early ANFH. Although many studies have reported on the efficacy of femoral head core decompression surgery for ANFH, there are still some shortcomings in assessing the severity of femoral head necrosis, the location distribution, and changes in necrotic lesions before and after surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and equivalent sphere model analysis were used to further clarify the clinical efficacy of percutaneous multiple small-diameter drilling core decompression in patients with ANFH. METHODS: From July 2013 to November 2016, 24 patients (32 cases of the hip joint) with ANFH who underwent percutaneous multiple small-diameter drilling core decompression were selected, and a retrospective analysis was conducted. MRI as well as VAS, OHS-C, and HHS scores were used to evaluate joint function in all patients before and 6, 12, and 24 months after the operation. RESULTS: Twenty-four months after the operation, 10 hips were amputated. The survival rates of alcoholic femoral head necrosis (AFNH), idiopathic femoral head necrosis (IFHN), and steroid-induced femoral head necrosis (SIFHN) patients at 24 months were 100%, 85.7% (− 2 hips), and 0.0% (− 8 hips), respectively. The MRI and equivalent sphere analysis results revealed that the anterior superior medial quadrant was the area most prone to osteonecrosis, and the posterior superior medial quadrant was the area second most prone to necrosis. After the operation, the average percentage of the AFHN necrosis area in the total volume of the femoral head decreased from 14.5 to 10.3%, and the average percentage of the IFHN necrosis area decreased from 16.3 to 9.2%; however, the average percentage of the necrosis area for SIFHN increased from 30.4 to 33.1%. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous multiple small-diameter drilling core decompression significantly reduced the lesion volume for AFHN and IFHN, but the effect on SIFHN was not good.