OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of arthroscopy-guided core decompression and bone grafting combined with selective arterial infusion for early stage avascular necrosis of femoral head.

METHODSFrom January 2010 to December 2014, 76 patients(76 hips) diagnosed as Ficat II stage avascular necrosis of femoral head were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. In the experimental group, there were 27 males and 8 females aged from 24 to 55 years old with an average of (43.96±6.81) years, treated with arthroscopic-guided core decompression and bone grafting combined with selective arterial infusion. Along the direction of the femoral neck, an 8 mm-diameter tunnel to necrotic areas was drilled, then curettage of necrotic bone was performed under arthroscope, and the iliac bone was grafted. In the control group, there were 29 males and 12 females aged from 26 to 56 years old with an average of (44.62±7.33) years, treated with percutaneous core decompression combined with selective arterial infusion. The preoperative and postoperative Harris scores were recorded and the changes of X-rays were analyzed.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up with an average of 30 months. Postoperative follow-up at 12 months showed that there was significant difference in imaging outcome between two groups(<0.05), the experimental group was better than that of control group. According to Harris hip score system, at the final follow-up, Harris score of the experimental group was 86.72±4.37 on average, 6 cases got excellent results, 24 good, 4 fair and 1 poor. Harris score of the control group was 78.62±5.62 on average, 2 cases got excellent results, 20 good, 15 fair and 4 poor. After Ridit analysis, there was significant difference in the effect between the two groups(<0.05). By pairing sampletest, there was significant difference between the preoperative and postoperative Harris score in the both groups(<0.05). Between the two groups, there was no significant difference in preoperative Harris score(>0.05), but there was significant difference in postoperative Harris score(<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe two surgical procedures for early femoral head necrosis are effective. Using arthroscopic-guided core decompression method, the necrotic bone can be positioned and scraped more accurately, and can obtain better results.