Stage-related results in treatment of hip osteonecrosis with core-decompression and autologous mesenchymal stem cells

Our aim is to analyse the clinical outcome of a series of patients affected by avascular necrosis of the femo- ral head and treated with core-decompression tech- nique and autologous stromal cells of the bone marrow. We enrolled in our study 29 patients with 31 hips in total affected by avascular necrosis of the femoral head. The clinical and radiological outcome has been assessed through self-administered questionnaires (HHS, VAS and SF12) X-ray and Magnetic Reso- nance. The treatment of osteonecrosis is one of the most controversial subjects in the orthopaedic literature. Of all the examined hips, 25 showed a relief of the symptoms and a resolution of the osteonecrosis, 11 of these were at Stage I and 14 at Stage II. The progres- sion of the disease occurred in 6 hips (2 Stage II, 2 Stage III and 2 Stage IV). Our results show a significant decrease in joint pain level and a success in avoiding or delaying the need of hip replacement in early stages of osteonecrosis.