Digital Subtraction Angiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Staging of Circulatory Obstruction in the Femoral Head During Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head Development

Abstract

Introduction: Nontraumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (NONFH) is a common and difficult disease in orthopedics. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of NONFH and bone marrow edema was combined with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) to evaluate the circulatory status of NONFH in different Association Research Circulation Osseous stages. Based on the circulatory obstruction status (venous stasis, arterial ischemia, and arterial occlusion), appropriate perioperative management was adopted to achieve hip joint preservation and effectively delay the time for total hip arthroplasty in young patients.

Methods: From January 2013 to March 2019, 41 orthopedic patients were evaluated for medical imaging. Sixty-one ONFH cases were enrolled. The inclusion criteria include: (1) Clear diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. (2) No history of infection in the affected hip, no history of hip surgery, and no congenital hip diseases. The patients enrolled in this study were 8 women and 33 men between the ages of 19 and 64 years (mean, 39.25 ± 8.90 years). Preoperative X-ray, computed tomography, MRI, DSA, and histological data were taken.

Results: The combination of DSA and MRI can efficiently show blood supply changes in the femoral head of NONFH patients at different Association Research Circulation Osseous stages; and also can possibly reveal the causes and development of NONFH. Different stages of circulatory obstruction of the femoral head can be clearly distinguished and used to determine the required perioperative management, thus yielding successful surgical outcomes.

Conclusions: The existing classification systems do not fully reflect the progression of circulatory obstruction in ONFH. Each stage of NONFH development has its own characteristics circulatory obstruction. Early-stage NONFH displays characteristic venous stasis of the femoral head, whereas advanced stage NONFH is characterized by insufficient arterial blood supply to the femoral head. Corresponding NONFH treatment strategies should be considered based on their specific circulatory status. This work also provides guidance and recommendations for adopting corresponding femoral head preserving strategies for young patients in different NONFH circulatory status.