Comparison robot-assisted core decompression combined with human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation and traditional surgery for treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. A retrospective study

Abstract

Objective To compare the difference in the effect betweeen robot-assisted core decompression combined with human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) transplantation and traditional core decompression surgery for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Methods: Thirty-eight patients with a total of 50 hips who were diagnosed with Association Research Circulation Osseous stage 2 avascular necrosis of the femoral head were included for retrospective analysis. According to the treatment method, they were divided into 2 groups. Twenty patients (28 femoral heads) in the robot group were treated with core decompression assisted by robots combined with human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation (observation group) . The traditional surgery group consisted of 18 patients (22 femoral heads), they were received traditional core decompression operation (control group). Preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, the Harris hip score (HHS) and MRI examination were compared between two groups. Results: The mean follow-up was 17.6 months (12–28 months). There was no significant difference in preoperative VAS and HHS scores and necrotic volume of femoral heads between the two groups. Of note, VAS scores and necrotic volume of femoral heads in robot group were significantly lower than those in traditional surgery group at the last follow-up, HHS scores in robot group were significantly highter than those in traditional surgery group at the last follow-up. Conclusion: Robot-assisted core decompression combined with hUC-MSC transplantation is more effective than traditional core decompression operation for the treatment of femoral head necrosis.