Extracorporeal shockwave treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in systemic lupus erythematosis

Abstract

This article reported a case of systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) with osteonecrosis of the femoral heads (ONFH-3) successfully treated with a novel extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ESWT). The follow-up at 3 years showed that both hips had no pain on activities for daily living. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) showed substantial reduction in bone marrow edema and no further collapse of the lesions. Radiographs and MRIs showed no change in the staging of the disease. ESWT provided beneficial effects for hips affected by ONFH in patients with SLE. This novel treatment modality resulted in significant pain relief and functional improvement of the hip and reduction in bone marrow edema in our patient. It appeared that ESWT might have the potential to curtail the progression of the disease and to delay the need for total hip arthroplasty in the very young patients contracted with SLE.