Preliminary observation of clinical results of treatment for early non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head with Madopar

Objective To observe the preliminary effects of the treatment for early non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head with Madopar. Methods Thirty-one patients with 48 hips of early stage (Ficat Ⅰ,Ⅱ) non-traumatic necrosis of the femoral head were treated with oral administration of Madopar since 2002. The disease was associated with consumption of alcohol in 16 cases with 27 hips; use of steroids in 10 cases with 13 hips; both consumption of alcohol and use of steroids in 2 cases with 4 hips; the remaining 3 cases, the condition was idiopathic. According to the criteria of Ficat et al., there were 4 hips in stage Ⅰ; 40 in stage Ⅱa and 4 in stage Ⅱb. Eighteen patients had received madopar for 10-28 months; 13 patients had been receiving the drug until now. Follow-up examinations were made by radiography, MRI and Charnley modified Merle d'Aubigne score. Results All patients were followed up for 12-84 months (average 27.8 months). The clinical symptoms improved in all cases. X-ray films showed that the bone density increased in nearly all the femoral heads, and 68.75%(33/48) of them maintained their shapes. The follow-up MRI showed their necrotic indices had decreased. The rate of clinical satisfaction was 91.67%(44/48), and the successful rate of treatment was 72.92%(35/48), and the collapse rate of early stage necrosis of the femoral head is 27.08%(13/48). Conclusion The preliminary results showed that madopar could prevent or delay collapse of the femoral head in early stage of osteonecrosis. Key words: Femur head necrosis;  Drug therapy;  Treatment outcome