Core decompression with β-tri-calcium phosphate grafts in combination with platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of avascular necrosis of femoral head

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to investigate whether the application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined with β-tri-calcium phosphate (β-TCP) grafts after core decompression (CD) could improve the clinical outcomes of early stage of avascular necrosis of femoral head. METHODS: Forty-five (54 hips) patients with Ficat-Arlet classification stage I-II treated by CD with β-TCP grafts with or without the application of PRP from July 2015 to October 2020 were reviewed. Group A (CD + β-TCP grafts) included 24 patients (29 hips), while group B (CD + β-TCP grafts + PRP) included 21 patients (25 hips). Visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Harris hip score (HHS), change in modified Kerboul angle and the hip joint survival were evaluated and compared between the groups. Patients had a mean follow-up period of 62.1 ± 17.2 months and 59.3 ± 14.8 months in group A and group B, respectively. RESULTS: The mean VAS scores in group A was significantly higher than group B at the 6 months (2.9 ± 0.7 vs 1.9 ± 0.6, p < 0.01) and final follow up postoperative (2.8 ± 1.2 vs 2.2 ± 0.7, p = 0.04). The mean HHS in group A was significantly lower than group B at the 6 months (80.5 ± 13.8 vs 89.8 ± 12.8, p = 0.02). However, at the final follow up, there is no significant difference between the groups (77.0 ± 12.4 vs 83.1 ± 9.3, p = 0.07). The mean change in modified Kerboul angle was -7.4 ± 10.6 in group A and -19.9 ± 13.9 in group B which is statistically significant (p < 0.01). Survivorship from total hip arthroplasty were 86.2%/84% (p = 0.86) at the final follow up, which was not statistically significant. No serious complications were found in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of PRP combined with CD and β-TCP grafts provided significant pain relief, better functional outcomes, and delayed progression in the short term compared to CD combined with β-TCP grafts. However, the prognosis of the femoral head did not improve significantly in the long term. In the future, designing new implants to achieve multiple PRP injections may improve the hip preservation rate.