Modified trapdoor procedures using autogenous tricortical iliac graft without preserving the broken cartilage for treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a prospective cohort study with historical controls

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to investigate clinical and radiological outcomes of autologous tricortical iliac grafting performed through a window created at the femoral head without suturing the opened articular cartilage for the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH), called modified trapdoor procedures.Materials and methodsA total of 59 consecutive patients (67 hips; 36 males and 23 females) with ONFH were included in this study, which was conducted from April 2009 to March 2012. Patients’ age ranged from 27 to 46 years old, with a mean age of 36.3 years. Harris hip scores (HHS) were used to evaluate hip function pre- and postoperatively. Anteroposterior and frog-position X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were conducted to assess lesion location, size, and ARCO stage. Clinical failure was defined as score < 80 points or treatment by total hip arthroplasty (THA). Radiographic failure was defined as a > 3 mm of collapse in the hip. This group was retrospectively matched according to the ARCO stage, extent, location, etiology of the lesion, average age, gender, and preoperative Harris hip score to a group of 59 patients (67 hips) who underwent the “light bulb” approach between March 2007 and April 2009.ResultsMean follow-up was 91.2 ± 13.6 months (range, 75–115 months). Mean HHS was 91.3 ± 4.5, compared with 83.1 ± 4.5 in the “light bulb” cohort at the 6-year follow-up examination (P < 0.001). At the 6-year follow-up, for modified trapdoor procedures, five hips (8.5%) were classified as clinical failure, and three hips underwent total hip arthroplasty; seven hips were classified as (10.4%) radiographic failure. The clinical and radiographic failure of the hips treated with the modified trapdoor procedure was significantly lower compared to the hips treated with the “light bulb” procedure (P < 0.05). Survival of the joint was not significantly related to the location of the femoral head lesion between two groups; however, better clinical and radiographic results were observed in modified trapdoor procedures with size C and the ARCO stage III.ConclusionThe present study demonstrated superior midterm clinical results in ONFH with the use of autologous tricortical iliac block graft through a femoral head window, without suturing the opened articular cartilage. The femoral head-preserving procedure was superior compared to the “light bulb” procedure treatment in patients with postcollapse osteonecrosis and large lesion.