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INDICATION ABOUT HYPERBARIC TREATMENT OF ASEPTIC NECROSIS OF THE FEMORAL HEAD (NATF).

Michele Montanari, Nicola Bronzini1. Clinica Ortopedica e Traumatoligica Universita degli Studi di Verona & 1Istituto Iperbarico, OTI Medicale, Vicenza, Italy.

INTRODUCTION:

The aseptic necrosis of the femoral head is a pathology, which is exponentially increasing in the world population; this is due to the use of more efficacious diagnostic imaging and to the modifications in characteristics and quality of life. We analyzed 109 cases of NATF, evaluated according to Ficat's classification, together with NMR images for diagnosis, both before and after the treatment.

METHODS:

Patients received 20 to 60 hyperbaric oxygen treatments at 2.2 ATA for 90 minutes (100% O2 breathing). RESULTS: 96% of hips classified in Ficat > 2 faced a prosthetic joint replacement (28 cases), and 94% of hips classified in Ficat <2 recovered from the necrosis completely.

CONCLUSIONS:

Precocius diagnosis and the timeliness in hyperbaric treatment allows almost complete recovery of femoral head necrosis classified at < 2 Ficat's stage; on the contrary we do not see any necessity of hyperbaric treatment in cases classified Ficat >2.

(Reprinted with Permission)