Abstract
Background: Hip-preserving surgeries with vascularized pedicle iliac bone grafts (VPIBG) are effective for osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). However, few studies exist about the long-term efficacy of this procedure. The aim of this meta analysis was to investigate how long does this hip-preserving surgery last. Methods: A comprehensive search was carried out through PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Collaboration Library for all relevant studies up to November 2019. The literature search strategy contained Medical Subject Headings and terms relating to ONFH and bone transplantation. All included studies were articles on VBIPG for ONFH, with an average follow-up of more than 5 years. Interesting outcomes included clinical success rates, complications, and conversion rates of THA. The data from eligible studies were then extracted and synthesized. The pooled effect size (ES) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Ten studies were finally selected. Eight studies including 3413 hips were pooled into the meta-analysis of success rates, the overall ES was 0.89 (95% CI, 0.86–0.92). In subgroup analysis, the ES was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.78–0.98) and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87–0.92) at an average 5-10 years and 10-15 years follow-up, respectively. Pooled analysis of THA conversion rates derived from 7 studies (3389 hips) showed the overall ES of 0.10 (95% CI, 0.09–0.11). Seven studies (3396 hips) were included in a meta-analysis of complication rates, and the overall ES was 0.12 (95% CI, 0.08–0.18). The most common complications were secondary wound healing (37.6%), numbness or paresthesia of the lateral thigh (22.4%), and deep vein thrombosis (19.6%). Conclusions: The hip-preserving surgery with VPIBG is a safe and effective treatment for early-stage ONFH, but it should be used with caution in the treatment of advanced femoral head necrosis. The pooled data from this study suggested that 90% of the hips in patients with ONFH lasted 10 years after this surgery. However, most of the included studies are case series, and these conclusions will need the support of high-quality research in the future.
Vascularized pedicle iliac bone grafts as a hip-preserving surgery for femur head necrosis: a systematic review
