Modified Lightbulb Non-Vascularized Bone Grafting Technique for Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head

Multiple techniques for non-vascularized bone grafting for the treatment of femoral head osteonecrosis have been proposed with varying degrees of success. The success of these procedures may be improved with the use of ancillary growth and differentiation factors. The trephine (Phemister) technique allows for limited decompression of the femoral head through two percutaneous tunnels, while the direct approach through the femoral head ("trapdoor" technique) may result in damage to the articular cartilage. Herein we provide our modified "lightbulb" technique to decompress the femoral head through a window at the femoral head-neck junction that provides excellent, direct access to the osteonecrotic lesion. Adjuvant, non-vascularized bone graft, comprised of bone marrow aspiration concentrate (BMAC) and open matrix bone graft (MagnetOs Flex Matrix, Kuros Bioscience, Bilthoven, Netherlands) is a unique fibrillar and flexible structure that provides bone induction and further structural support to create a favorable environment for bone formation and healing. This is a straight-forward, hip-preserving, surgical technique that may be used for symptomatic management to delay, or potentially obviate, the need for total hip arthroplasty in patients who have medium- to large-sized or early-collapse lesions of the femoral head.