The effects of treatment the avascular necrosis of the femoral head with extracorporeal focused shockwave therapy.

Background.Avascular necrosis of the femoral head continues to represent a major challenge for the orthopaedist and trauma surgeon. A fully effective method of treatment is yet to be introduced. After femoral head collapse, only total hip replacement can help the patient. Our study aims to assess the effects of treatment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head with extra corporeal focused shockwave therapy.Material and methods. A prospective study was carried out in patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head, ARCO stage I-III, diagnosed by MRI imaging. Shock waves are applied under x-ray guidance. Four points are marked on the skin above the lesion. Each spot receives a dose of 1500 pulses at an energy flux density of 0.4 mJ/mm2 and a frequency of 4 Hz. Each patient undergoes 5 therapy sessions. A posturometric and stabilometric assessment is carried out before and after the therapy. Other examinations include a tensometric evaluation of the strength of the treated limb, and an assessment of pain intensity (VAS scale)and hip function (Harris hip score). Follow-up visits are scheduled at 6 weeks and 3, 6 and 12 months post-treatment.Results. Nine patients were treated with shockwave therapy at the Department of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Traumatology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Silesia, between 5 May 2011 and 1 June 2012. The patients demonstrated pain reduction and improved mobility of the treated joint (VAS score decreasing from 6.75 +/- 0.71 to 2.5 +/- 1.7; Harris hip score increasing from 55.21 +/- 15.45 to 89.21 +/- 8.26). Tensometric platform testing carried out after the treatment revealed a statistically significant difference between mean velocity of the centre of pressure (CoP) movement when walking with eyes open and closed (p<0.05) and mean CoP movement along the x (walking with eyes closed) and y (free standing with eyes closed) axes.Conclusions. 1. Extracorporeal focused shockwave therapy resulted in considerable improvement in the patients' quality of life at 6 weeks' follow-up. 2. At 6 months some patients reported intensified pain and worse hip function.