OBJECTIVETo observe the curative effects of bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) and peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) transplantations on the avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH).

METHODSTotally 122 ANFH patients (211 coxae) treated by BMSC or PBSC transplantations were enrolled from July 2004 to December 2006. All of them were classed to different stages according to the ARCO. Control group were desired as themselves before and after treatment. The puncture of femoral artery was conducted with digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and the tubes were inserted into medial femoral circumflex artery, lateral femoral circumflex artery and obturator artery with the cell suspensions were gradually poured into the arteries.

RESULTSThe joint pain, joint functions and walking distance of 122 patients were detected for the follow-up. Compared with before treatment, the calibers thickened; vessels increased and blood velocity quickened of femoral head blood-supply artery were observed in 15 patients after 6 months checked by DSA. The reduced areas of femoral head necrosis in 8 patients indicated the new bone formation between 12 and 24 months.

CONCLUSIONSAutologous BMSC and PBSC transplantation results in the new bone formation and improvement of ischemia in areas of femoral head necrosis at 6 months. The change of angiography was observed about 12 to 24 months after cell transplantation. The stem cell transplantation is convenient, safe and effective in the treatment of the ANFH with no adverse reaction, and can be considered as a new therapy of ANFH.