Network meta-analysis of invasive treatment for early-stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a common disabling disease in orthopedics. Blocking the progression of ONFH in the early stage is essential for avoiding total hip replacement.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of invasive treatment on early-stage ONFH.

According to the PRISMA guidelines, relevant English databases were searched in August 2022 to collect published research. Extract result indicators and conduct network meta-analysis using R software.

A total of 15 RCTs were included. All patients were diagnosed with early-stage ONFH. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) showed that CD + BMMSC and CD + PRP were the most effective in improving HHS. The results of the league table showed that CD + BMMSC was superior to CD alone. Meanwhile, the SUCRA for FR showed that CD + BG + BMMSC was the most likely to be the most effective in reducing FR. The league table revealed that CD + BG, CD + BG + BMMSC, and CD + BMMSC were superior to CD alone, with statistically significant differences.

Considering the HHS and FR, CD + BMMSC may be the optimal treatment option to effectively delay the progression of ONFH and restore the postoperative function of patients.

Registration Number: The study protocol has been registered on the PROSPERO platform (CRD42023380169).