BACKGROUND: Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is classified into idiopathic and secondary forms. A number of etiological factors in the development of osteonecrosis have been suggested but the biological mechanisms are still unclear. Recently, some reports suggested that the apoptosis is closely related to osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Therefore, this study examined the expression of apoptosis in osteonecrosis of the femoral head. METHODS: Of the patients diagnosed preoperatively with osteonecrosis and underwent total hip replacement arthroplasty between August 2004 and July 2005, 58 patients (58 hips) were available for this study. Their diagnoses were confirmed by the postoperative pathology findings. Tissue samples of the femoral head sections were terminal deoxynucleotydyl transferase mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) stained using an in situ cell death detection POD kit. The number of total and TUNEL-positive osteocytes, and the average ratio of TUNEL-positive cells were calculated and analyzed according to the cause. RESULTS: Osteonecrosis was steroid-induced in 8 cases (13.8%), alcohol-induced in 29 cases (50%), post-traumatic in 6 cases (10.3%) and idiopathic in 15 cases (25.9%). The percentage of TUNEL-positive osteocytes was high in patients with steroid- and alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head but low in patients with post-traumatic and idiopathic osteonecrosis. The difference in the percentage of TUNEL-positive osteocytes between these groups was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Apoptosis might play an important role in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head induced by steroid and alcohol. These findings highlight a need for further research into the role of apoptosis in the development of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; *Apoptosis ; Female ; Femur Head/*pathology ; Femur Head Necrosis/etiology/*pathology/surgery ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical and radiologic results of impacted femoral neck fractures treated with multiple pinning and determined the influence of the progression of impaction at the fracture site on clinical outcome. METHODS: There were 34 patients with a mean age of 65.5 years. The mean follow-up period was 3.4 years. Progression of fracture site impaction was measured using an articulo-trochanteric distance index and the percentage decrease in the articulo-trochanteric distance index between follow-up intervals. The failure of treatment was clarified as non-union and avascular necrosis. Other characteristics of the patients, including mean waiting time for surgery, preoperative Singh index score, and body mass index, were also measured to evaluate the influence on the clinical outcome of surgery. RESULTS: There were 6 fractures which were not treated successfully (3 non-union, 8.8% and 3 avascular necrosis, 8.8%). The mean percentage decrease of the articulo-trochanteric distance index within the first 6 weeks after surgery was 4.5% in the successful group and 25.1% in the failure group (p < 0.001). There was also a significant mean percentage decrease in the articulo-trochanteric distance index between 6 weeks and 3 months (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Primary stabilization with Knowles pins for impacted femoral neck fractures had a reasonable clinical outcome with low morbidity. Despite a significant difference of a mean percentage decrease in the articulo-trochanteric distance index between the successful group and the failure group, we could not verify it as a risk factor for failure of treatment because the odds ratio was not statistically significant.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Nails ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures/complications/radiography/*surgery ; Femur Head Necrosis/etiology/radiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; *Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Ununited/radiography ; Hip Joint/*pathology/radiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical and radiologic results of impacted femoral neck fractures treated with multiple pinning and determined the influence of the progression of impaction at the fracture site on clinical outcome. METHODS: There were 34 patients with a mean age of 65.5 years. The mean follow-up period was 3.4 years. Progression of fracture site impaction was measured using an articulo-trochanteric distance index and the percentage decrease in the articulo-trochanteric distance index between follow-up intervals. The failure of treatment was clarified as non-union and avascular necrosis. Other characteristics of the patients, including mean waiting time for surgery, preoperative Singh index score, and body mass index, were also measured to evaluate the influence on the clinical outcome of surgery. RESULTS: There were 6 fractures which were not treated successfully (3 non-union, 8.8% and 3 avascular necrosis, 8.8%). The mean percentage decrease of the articulo-trochanteric distance index within the first 6 weeks after surgery was 4.5% in the successful group and 25.1% in the failure group (p < 0.001). There was also a significant mean percentage decrease in the articulo-trochanteric distance index between 6 weeks and 3 months (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Primary stabilization with Knowles pins for impacted femoral neck fractures had a reasonable clinical outcome with low morbidity. Despite a significant difference of a mean percentage decrease in the articulo-trochanteric distance index between the successful group and the failure group, we could not verify it as a risk factor for failure of treatment because the odds ratio was not statistically significant.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Nails ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures/complications/radiography/*surgery ; Femur Head Necrosis/etiology/radiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; *Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Ununited/radiography ; Hip Joint/*pathology/radiography ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Treatment Outcome