Outcomes of limited femoral resurfacing arthroplasty compared with total hip arthroplasty for osteonecrosis of the femoral head

This study compared the results of limited femoral head resurfacing arthroplasty versus total hip arthroplasty (THA) for osteonecrosis. Thirty consecutive patients who had undergone a femoral head resurfacing procedure for osteonecrosis of the femoral head were compared with 30 consecutive patients who had undergone a THA. Both groups of patients had Steinberg stage III or IV disease with no acetabular cartilage involvement radiographically and by intraoperative inspection. At a 7-year mean follow-up for the resurfacing group and an 8-year mean follow-up for the THA group, the survival rate was 90% and 93% (P=.3). This study supports the femoral head resurfacing procedure as an alternative to THA for the time period studied.