[Results of medullary space decompression in the early stage of so-called idiopathic femur head necrosis].

The results of 47 cases of core decompression in 42 patients with stage I and stage II (according to Ficat) avascular necrosis of the femoral head who had been followed up for a minimum of two years were subjected to retrospective analysis. All these cases involved so-called "idiopathic necrosis" of the head of the femur including patients with risk factors (alcohol abuses, lipometabolic disorders and hyperuricemia). 87% of the 30 stage I hip joints showed no radiological signs of deterioration and could also be classified as clinically successful (average follow-up time 47 months (24-100 months). After an average follow-up period of 38 months (24-86 months), 41% of the 17 stage II hip joints had to be classified radiologically as failures. A good clinical or radiological result could be achieved in 59% of these cases. This procedure has proved to entail low risk, and can be recommended as the first choice of therapy at early stages of necrosis of the head of the femur.