[Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for osteonecrosis of femoral head: traps and challenges]

Extracorporeal shock wave (ESW), as a noninvasive, safe, and effective treatment, was applied to the treatment in osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) since the end of last century. Although this therapy is more and more widely used, there are many traps and challenges. We recommend using the high-energy focus ESW to treat ONFH, rather than using the low energy radial pressure wave. Furthermore, for different types ONFH, scientific personalized treatment planning should be made first. There are demands of multicenter united researches for this unknown field of ONFH treated with ESW, and so to provide high-level evidence-based medicine evidence.