Abstract
Introduction and purpose: The aim of this study is to determine whether a porous tantallium implant is effective in the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis (ON) in its early stages.
Materials and methods: Between December 2002 and March 2006, 20 tantalum-on-rod screws were implanted in 15 patients with femoral head ON. A retrospective study was performed to analyze distribution by sample age, sex and etiology, stage of ON according to the Ficat and Arlet classification and the Shimuzu et al classification as modified by Lieberman et al. The result obtained was quantified according to subjective clinical evolution, ON evolution as determined by x-rays and the subsequent need for total hip replacement.
Results: Good results were obtained, with clinical remission and absence of necrosis progression in 60% of ON cases. Conversion to total hip replacement was necessary in 35% of hips. Mean follow-up was 16.4 months.
Conclusions: The treatment of ON with porous tantallium implants is quick and simple. It is important to use an accurate technique with implantation at the appropriate level and limit this surgery to the initial stages of the disease. To obtain more significant results it is necessary to study more cases and carry out a longer follow-up.
The abstracts were prepared by E. Carlos Rodríguez-Merchán, Editor-in-Chief of the Spanish Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (Revista de Ortopedia y Traumatología). Correspondence should be addressed to him at: Sociedad Española de Cirugía Ortopédica y Traumatología, calle Fernández de los Ríos 108, 28015-Madrid, Spain
