Novel Treatment for Osteonecrosis of the Humeral Head Using the Trufit Plug: A Synthetic Bone-Graft Substitute

Abstract

Treatment of avascular necrosis of the humeral head is a challenging clinical problem because patients often present at a young age with established destruction of bony tissue. Reccommended surgical treatment at this stage of the disease is joint replacement surgery using a metal implant, although this has potential complications. The present case report describes the novel use of a synthetic bone-graft substitute (TruFit plug; Smith & Nephew, Andover, MA, USA) that was successfully used to restore full range of movement and completely alleviate pain in a patient with stage II avascular necrosis of the right humeral head.