To evaluate the clinical effects of the implantation of porous tantalum rod under three-dimensional (3D) C-arm positioning in the treatment of ARCO I and II non-traumatic femoral head necrosis.

Fifty patients (58 hips, 39 males and 11 females, mean age 33.52 years) with non-traumatic femoral head in ARCO I-II were included from January 2009 to December 2011. All patients received implantation of porous tantalum rod. The 3D C-arm X-ray positioning was used in 24 patients (29 hips), while traditional C-arm X-ray positioning was performed in the other patients. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Harris score and superior rate were evaluated at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 years after the surgery. Total hip arthroplasty was regarded as the end event for survival rate.

In the 3D C-arm X-ray positioning group, the VAS score decreased from 7.17±1.00 points preoperatively to 2.38±0.86 points at half year, to 2.10±1.40 points at 1 year, to 2.38±1.66 points at 2 years, and to 2.21±1.47 points at 4 years postoperatively (F=98.78, P=0.00). Meanwhile, the Harris score increased significantly from 73.97±3.49 points preoperatively to 89.90±1.93, 89.93±3.26, 89.21±5.83, 88.57±5.70 points at the follow up, respectively (F=84.35, P=0.00). According to the analysis of the pre-operative and post-operative image data, there was no significant difference in progress in the ARCO staging at 23 hips duration the follow-up. Four hips were developed to ARCO III and two hips to ARCO II. Thus, the success rate of operation was 79% (23/29). There were two hips underwent total hip arthroplasty, so the survival rate of femoral head was 93% (27/29). The trend of VAS score and Harris score in the C-arm X-ray positioning group was in accordance with the 3D C-arm X-ray positioning group but without statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The operation duration 31.38±3.96 min, blood loss 36.72±5.59 ml, the ratio of distance of metal rod to bone cortex in femoral neck 0.48±0.10, and the distance of mental rod to center of necrosis 0.18±0.07 cm in 3D C-arm X-ray positioning group was superior to C-arm X-ray positioning group (respectively 41.97±4.64 min, 41.49±4.46 ml, 0.46±0.06, 0.23±0.10 cm, P<0.05).

The implantation of tantalum rod in treating ARCO I-II non-traumatic femoral head necrosis can increase the function of hip joint, relieve the symptoms of necrosis of femoral head, alleviate the progress of femoral head necrosis in X-ray, and obtain a higher survival rate. The 3D C-arm positioning in surgical operation could improve the accuracy and safety of surgery.

Femur head necrosis; Tantalum; Imaging, three-dimensional; X-rays; Radiography