Resurfacing of the femoral head with fresh osteochondral allografts. Long-term results.

Twenty-five fresh osteochondral allografts were transplanted in 21 patients. All except one were for avascular necrosis with segmental collapse of the femoral head. One transplant was in a hip with a Pipkin II fracture-dislocation. Most of the failures were in hips of patients receiving systemic steroid therapy. There was an 80% rate of success in non-steroid-treated patients. The allograft resurfacing procedure seems to be a successful intermediate alternative operation in young patients with avascular necrosis and segmental collapse of the head of the femur.