Efficiency of iloprost treatment for osseous malperfusion

Insufficient osseous blood supply results in bone marrow oedema (BMO) and/or avascular necrosis (AVN). One treatment option to support osseous perfusion is the application of stable prostacycline analog iloprost. In this clinical study, 95 patients were treated with iloprost for BMO/AVN. One hundred eighty-six bones were affected by BMO/AVN before treatment. Average follow-up was 33.0 ± 17.6 months. Pain levels could be reduced (e.g. visual analogue scale, 5.0 ± 2.2 points reduced to 1.7 ± 2.2 points) and functional scores improved (Harris hip score, 52 ± 21 points to 79 ± 17 points) in the course of treatment. According to current data, healing of advanced stages of osteonecrosis is not possible. However, the results of this case series confirm previous findings that in early stages of insufficient osseous blood flow iloprost can contribute to the relief of pain and improve joint function.