The effect of electrical stimulation on osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Eleven hips in eight patients with Ficat Stage II osteonecrosis were treated with core decompression and placement of an electrical stimulating coil in the anterior superior quadrant of the femoral head. The hips were followed two to five years (average, three and one-half years). Five hips required reoperation at an average of 13 months after placement of the electrical coil. The remaining six hips had further deterioration of function with an average Iowa hip rating score of 55. Histologic examination of the retrieved femoral heads showed minimal evidence of new bone formation around the electrical stimulating coil. The clinical, roentgenographic, and histologic results of this study showed this treatment was ineffective in preventing deterioration of hip function in patients with Ficat Stage II osteonecrosis of the femoral head.