Infusion, core decompression, or infusion following core decompression in the treatment of bone edema syndrome and early avascular osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

An increase in interstitial fluid is an expression of bone marrow edema (BME) and osteonecrosis (ON). The exact pathogenetic processes still remain unknown. Treatment options are mainly symptomatic with core decompression as surgical golden standard with immediate pain relief. Recently, it has been shown that intravenous iloprost can be used to achieve a reduction in BME and ON with a considerable improvement in the accompanying symptoms. The effect of intraveneously applied iloprost alone (12 patients) was studied against core decompression alone (12 patients) as well as iloprost following core decompression (12 patients). We could find a significant improvement in HHS, WOMAC score, SF-36 score and VAS 3 months and 1 year after therapeutical intervention in all treatment groups; however, statistically best results were obtained by combination. Concerning the MRI scans, we found a distinct reduction in BME in all groups again favoring the combination. Concerning ON, the results were not as promising as for BME. Intravenous prostacyclin and core decompression as monotherapy are of efficient therapeutical benefit in the treatment of BME, and the combination of both methods, however, seems to be most promising, also in the treatment of ON. Long-term results and higher number of patients are needed for final statements.