Murat TAŞCI, Mustafa Murat HAKYOLDAŞ
Annals of Medical Research - 2026;33(1):43-47
Aim: Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is a progressive condition that often affects young individuals and may ultimately require total hip arthroplasty (THA). Core decompression (CD) is a widely used joint-preserving surgical technique, and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) injection has been proposed as an adjunct to enhance outcomes by promoting vascularization and cartilage repair. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with ANFH who underwent CD with or without BMAC injection were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, preoperative and 1-year Harris Hip Score (HHS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, Steinberg stage, and the need for THA during follow-up were recorded. Results: A total of 42 hips (30 males, 12 females; mean age 41.8 years) were analyzed. BMAC injection was performed in 28 hips (66.7%) and not performed in 14 hips (33.3%). At 1-year follow-up, THA was required in 14.3% of patients overall-7% in the BMAC group versus 28% in the CD-only group (p = 0.1). Improvement in HHS was seen in 60% of the BMAC group versus 50% of the CD-only group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Although statistical significance was not reached, the addition of BMAC to core decompression showed a trend toward reduced THA conversion and improved hip function.
