Skip to main content

Surgical Technique: Arthroscopic Core Decompression

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Hip Arthroscopy and Hip Joint Preservation Surgery
  • 2909 Accesses

Abstract

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head remains a challenging problem in the young patient population. The pathophysiology of this condition is poorly understood, and often, the underlying etiology is unknown. Several risk factors have been identified, including steroid use, alcohol use, trauma, and a history of hypercoagulable disorders. The management of osteonecrosis is dependent on the stage of the disease, which is typically divided into pre-collapse and post-collapse stages. The management of pre-collapse osteonecrosis of the femoral head is controversial, and both medical and surgical options have been described. The most commonly used surgical options include core decompression as well as bone grafting (vascularized or non-vascularized). Core decompression is a technique that theoretically decreases intraosseous pressure of the femoral head, resulting in a local vascularized healing response, and recently, arthroscopic techniques have been reported.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 599.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Kaushik AP, Das A, Cui Q. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head: an update in year 2012. World J Orthop. 2012;3(5):49–57.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lavernia CJ, Sierra RJ, Grieco FR. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 1999;7(4):250–61.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Mirzai R, Chang C, Greenspan A, Gershwin ME. Avascular necrosis. Compr Ther. 1998;24(5):251–5.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Rueda JC, Duque MA, Mantilla RD, Iglesias-Gamarra A. Osteonecrosis and antiphospholipid syndrome. J Clin Rheumatol Pract Rep Rheum Musculoskelet Dis. 2009;15(3):130–2.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Khan A, Hangartner T, Weinreb NJ, Taylor JS, Mistry PK. Risk factors for fractures and avascular osteonecrosis in type 1 Gaucher disease: a study from the International Collaborative Gaucher Group (ICGG) Gaucher Registry. J Bone Miner Res Off J Am Soc Bone Miner Res. 2012;27(8):1839–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Sayarlioglu M, Yuzbasioglu N, Inanc M, et al. Risk factors for avascular bone necrosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatol Int. 2012;32(1):177–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. McClune B, Majhail NS, Flowers ME. Bone loss and avascular necrosis of bone after hematopoietic cell transplantation. Semin Hematol. 2012;49(1):59–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Nguyen NA, Klein G, Dogbey G, McCourt JB, Mehlman CT. Operative versus nonoperative treatments for Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: a meta-analysis. J Pediatr Orthop. 2012;32(7):697–705.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Loder RT. What is the cause of avascular necrosis in unstable slipped capital femoral epiphysis and what can be done to lower the rate? J Pediatr Orthop. 2013;33 Suppl 1:S88–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Jarrett DY, Matheney T, Kleinman PK. Imaging SCFE: diagnosis, treatment and complications. Pediatr Radiol. 2013;43 Suppl 1:S71–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hougaard K, Thomsen PB. Coxarthrosis following traumatic posterior dislocation of the hip. J Bone Jt Surg Am Vol. 1987;69(5):679–83.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Nerubay J. Traumatic anterior dislocation of hip joint with vascular damage. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1976;116:129–32.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Beaule PE, Amstutz HC. Management of Ficat stage III and IV osteonecrosis of the hip. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2004;12(2):96–105.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Steinberg ME, Hayken GD, Steinberg DR. A quantitative system for staging avascular necrosis. J Bone Jt Surg Br Vol. 1995;77(1):34–41.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. LaPorte DM, Mont MA, Mohan V, Jones LC, Hungerford DS. Multifocal osteonecrosis. J Rheumatol. 1998;25(10):1968–74.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Sedonja I, Jevtic V, Milcinski M. Bone scintigraphy as a prognostic indicator for bone collapse in the early phases of femoral head osteonecrosis. Ann Nucl Med. 2007;21(3):167–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Malizos KN, Karantanas AH, Varitimidis SE, Dailiana ZH, Bargiotas K, Maris T. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head: etiology, imaging and treatment. Eur J Radiol. 2007;63(1):16–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Mont MA, Zywiel MG, Marker DR, McGrath MS, Delanois RE. The natural history of untreated asymptomatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a systematic literature review. J Bone Jt Surg Am Vol. 2010;92(12):2165–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Lieberman JR, Engstrom SM, Meneghini RM, SooHoo NF. Which factors influence preservation of the osteonecrotic femoral head? Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2012;470(2):525–34.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Kang JS, Moon KH, Kim BS, et al. Clinical results of auto-iliac cancellous bone grafts combined with implantation of autologous bone marrow cells for osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a minimum 5-year follow-up. Yonsei Med J. 2013;54(2):510–5.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Rackwitz L, Eden L, Reppenhagen S, et al. Stem cell- and growth factor-based regenerative therapies for avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Stem Cell Res Ther. 2012;3(1):7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Gangji V, De Maertelaer V, Hauzeur JP. Autologous bone marrow cell implantation in the treatment of non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head: five year follow-up of a prospective controlled study. Bone. 2011;49(5):1005–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Cui Q, Botchwey EA. Emerging ideas: treatment of precollapse osteonecrosis using stem cells and growth factors. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011;469(9):2665–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Zhao D, Cui D, Wang B, et al. Treatment of early stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head with autologous implantation of bone marrow-derived and cultured mesenchymal stem cells. Bone. 2012;50(1):325–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Agarwala S, Shah SB. Ten-year follow-up of avascular necrosis of femoral head treated with alendronate for 3 years. J Arthroplast. 2011;26(7):1128–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Fang T, Zhang EW, Sailes FC, McGuire RA, Lineaweaver WC, Zhang F. Vascularized fibular grafts in patients with avascular necrosis of femoral head: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2013;133(1):1–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Garrigues GE, Aldridge 3rd JM, Friend JK, Urbaniak JR. Free vascularized fibular grafting for treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head secondary to hip dislocation. Microsurgery. 2009;29(5):342–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang C, Zeng B, Xu Z, et al. Treatment of femoral head necrosis with free vascularized fibula grafting: a preliminary report. Microsurgery. 2005;25(4):305–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Le Nen D, Genestet M, Dubrana F, Stindel E, Lacroix J, Lefevre C. Vascularized fibular transplant for avascular necrosis of the femoral head: 16 cases. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot. 2004;90(8):722–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Gaskill TR, Urbaniak JR, Aldridge 3rd JM. Free vascularized fibular transfer for femoral head osteonecrosis: donor and graft site morbidity. J Bone Jt Surg Am Vol. 2009;91(8):1861–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Johnson AJ, Mont MA, Tsao AK, Jones LC. Treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis in the United States: 16-year analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2014;472(2):617–23.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Guadilla J, Fiz N, Andia I, Sanchez M. Arthroscopic management and platelet-rich plasma therapy for avascular necrosis of the hip. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc Off J ESSKA. 2012;20(2):393–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Dines JS, Strauss EJ, Fealy S, Craig EV. Arthroscopic-assisted core decompression of the humeral head. Arthrosc J Arthrosc Relat Surg Off Publ Arthrosc Assoc N Am Int Arthrosc Assoc. 2007;23(1):103.e101–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Zhuo N, Wan Y, Lu X, Zhang Z, Tan M, Chen G. Comprehensive management of early stage avascular necrosis of femoral head by arthroscopic minimally invasive surgery. Zhongguo xiu fu chong jian wai ke za zhi = Zhongguo xiufu chongjian waike zazhi = Chin J Repar Reconstr Surg. 2012;26(9):1041–4.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kelly BT, Williams 3rd RJ, Philippon MJ. Hip arthroscopy: current indications, treatment options, and management issues. Am J Sports Med. 2003;31(6):1020–37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Clarke MT, Arora A, Villar RN. Hip arthroscopy: complications in 1054 cases. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003;406:84–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. McCarthy J, Puri L, Barsoum W, Lee JA, Laker M, Cooke P. Articular cartilage changes in avascular necrosis: an arthroscopic evaluation. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003;406:64–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Ruch DS, Sekiya J, Dickson Schaefer W, Koman LA, Pope TL, Poehling GG. The role of hip arthroscopy in the evaluation of avascular necrosis. Orthopedics. 2001;24(4):339–43.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Sekiya JK, Ruch DS, Hunter DM, et al. Hip arthroscopy in staging avascular necrosis of the femoral head. J South Orthop Assoc. 2000;9(4):254–61.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Gupta AK, Frank RM, Harris JD, McCormick F, Mather RC, Nho SJ. Arthroscopic-assisted core decompression for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Arthrosc Tech. 2013;3(1):e7–e11.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Civinini R, De Biase P, Carulli C, et al. The use of an injectable calcium sulphate/calcium phosphate bioceramic in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Int Orthop. 2012;36(8):1583–8.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachel M. Frank .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Frank, R.M., Gupta, A., Hellman, M.D., Nho, S.J. (2015). Surgical Technique: Arthroscopic Core Decompression. In: Nho, S., Leunig, M., Larson, C., Bedi, A., Kelly, B. (eds) Hip Arthroscopy and Hip Joint Preservation Surgery. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6965-0_93

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6965-0_93

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6964-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6965-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics